Tesla began giving public rides in its steering-wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi on public roads in a limited zone of Austin, Texas on September 3-4, 2026. Hours after the launch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an audit query into whether Tesla properly certified the vehicle’s compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, since it lacks a steering wheel, pedals and mirrors and was self-certified by Tesla rather than processed through the standard AV exemption pathway. NHTSA said it intends to ensure safety laws are followed while still supporting autonomous-vehicle development.