Overview
- Tesla began a limited paid rollout of two‑seat Cybercabs in Austin on September 3 and told regulators it had self‑certified the vehicles as meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
- NHTSA opened an audit the same day and on September 10 issued a Special Order with 21 detailed requests that must be answered under oath by September 30.
- The agency wants specific proof of how a vehicle without a steering wheel, pedals or mirrors complies with standards written for human drivers and asks whether temporary controls were used during certification.
- Rider reports and coverage show the Cybercab is geofenced to low‑speed surface streets, avoids highways and some rail crossings, and can produce long detours that highlight current operational limits.
- The case spotlights the U.S. self‑certification system versus the Part 555 exemption route that other firms have used and could affect Tesla’s ability to scale its robotaxi service if regulators find the Cybercab was certified improperly.