Tesla Cybercab faces NHTSA scrutiny and emergency service concerns

Tesla is expanding its Cybercab autonomous vehicle fleet in Austin, Texas, with recent registrations bringing the purpose-built Cybercab count to 58. The company has also reportedly reached a milestone of 1 million unsupervised self-driving miles.

However, the rollout faces significant scrutiny. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a Special Order requiring Tesla to clarify how the vehicles were certified, specifically regarding the absence of steering wheels, pedals, and traditional mirrors. Tesla must respond to these federal inquiries by September 30.

Local emergency services have also raised concerns. The Austin Fire Department expressed uncertainty regarding how to manage the vehicles during emergencies, noting that the reliance on touchscreens for control could be problematic if screens are damaged or unresponsive. Because the Cybercabs lack manual controls, responders may need to contact Tesla operators to move vehicles, potentially causing critical delays.

Additionally, passenger reports from Austin have highlighted operational issues, including vehicles taking significantly longer routes or traveling in the wrong direction, likely due to current limitations in highway driving capabilities and geofencing constraints.