A New Era for Driving? Tesla’s Self-Driving Robotaxis Face Immediate Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla made a new push into autonomous transport on Friday when its self-driving taxis began operating in Austin, Texas. But the future of the Cybercab became uncertain almost immediately after the launch.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had opened an investigation into whether Tesla properly certified the new robotaxis. The vehicles have no steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator or mirrors, controls that are generally required even in self-driving cars.

Automakers must certify that their vehicles meet U.S. federal safety standards. NHTSA is now examining why Tesla concluded that all of those standards did not apply to its new vehicle.

The rules could become less strict in the future. In June, for example, NHTSA proposed that autonomous vehicles might not need a manual brake pedal. The agency can also grant automakers a limited number of exemptions allowing them to remove manual controls from self-driving vehicles. It granted such exemptions over the summer to Zoox, another company developing autonomous taxis.

Only 45 Tesla robotaxis currently operate in Austin. The company plans to expand the service gradually to more vehicles and locations. The launch nonetheless disappointed investors, several media outlets reported. Tesla shares had fallen by nearly 6% in U.S. trading by 4 a.m. Finnish time on Saturday.