The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s self-certification that its Cybercab autonomous vehicle meets federal safety standards, following commercial deployment of the model as a driverless robotaxi in Austin, Texas. The audit query will examine whether Tesla’s compliance framework adequately covers a vehicle designed without conventional human controls. Under the US regulatory framework, automakers self-certify compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), subject to agency oversight. The Cybercab entered commercial service in Austin without a steering wheel, brake pedal, or other conventional driver controls, raising questions about which existing requirements apply and how Tesla evidenced adherence to them. NHTSA has begun work on eight rulemakings intended to adapt existing standards for autonomous vehicles, covering areas including lighting, rearview mirrors, and windshield wipers. Those revisions remain incomplete, and current FMVSS requirements, many drafted for human-operated vehicles, continue to apply. In a statement, Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA Administrator, said: “NHTSA fully supports the safe development and deployment of automated vehicles. But as the federal regulator, we need to ensure that all of our laws are followed. Our approach of balancing innovation with safety oversight will allow the United States to maintain its global leadership in AV innovation.” Source: NHTSA