Tesla taxi design draws criticism

Tesla’s Cybercab design drew fresh criticism on Tuesday after an X post by user plausiblyawake recirculated images of the vehicle’s interior and argued that Tesla had removed the steering wheel and pedals in favor of software-based operation. The post spread as Tesla’s purpose-built robotaxi entered early commercial service in Austin, Texas, last week. Federal regulators have already opened an investigation into how Tesla certified the vehicle for U.S. roads. The criticism centers on a design choice Tesla has made explicit: the Cybercab is built without conventional manual controls. NHTSA said in an audit notice dated September 3 that the vehicles “lack permanently attached, conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel, and mirrors.” The agency said Tesla told regulators it had certified the Cybercab as compliant with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and planned to expand deployment to more vehicles and locations. (x.com) ### What exactly are people reacting to in the Cybercab cabin? The X post by plausiblyawake focused on the absence of the usual driver controls and framed that absence as a safety concern, according to the post linked in the source briefing. The images circulated as online replies from drivers and safety commentators questioned how riders or emergency personnel would respond if the vehicle stopped unexpectedly or behaved unpredictably. (static.nhtsa.gov) Tesla’s Cybercab is a two-seat robotaxi intended to operate without a human driver. Reports published after the Austin rollout said riders use an app and in-car touchscreen rather than a steering wheel or pedals, and Tesla had previewed the launch with social-media language stating “no steering wheel, no pedals.” ### When did Tesla start putting the vehicle into service? (x.com) September 3 is the key date in the current debate. NHTSA’s audit resume says Tesla “began commercial deployment with a small number” of Cybercab vehicles in Austin that day. The agency estimated the vehicle population covered by the audit at about 1,000 units. Austin is also where Tesla has limited the first public rides. (aventure.vc) Reports on the launch said service was available only in parts of the city and was summoned through Tesla’s existing robotaxi app. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk promoted the rollout on X, according to those reports. ### Why are regulators involved already? NHTSA announced on September 4 that it had opened Audit Query AQ26002 to investigate Tesla’s certification that the Cybercab meets applicable federal safety standards. (static.nhtsa.gov) The agency said it would examine the process and technical data Tesla relied on, including whether some standards were treated as inapplicable because of the vehicle’s design. (en.sedaily.com) Jonathan Morrison, the NHTSA administrator, said in the agency statement that NHTSA supports automated-vehicle development but must ensure “all of our laws are followed.” The agency also said it is working on rulemakings involving standards tied to equipment such as brake pedals, windshield wipers, lighting and rearview mirrors, but that current standards remain in force until those changes are completed. (nhtsa.gov) ### What has Tesla said publicly about the no-controls design? Tesla has promoted the absence of manual controls as a defining feature of the Cybercab. Ahead of the Austin launch, company-linked social posts and subsequent coverage described the vehicle as having “no steering wheel, no pedals,” language repeated across launch reports. (nhtsa.gov) The design is not new to Tuesday’s online debate. Tesla first unveiled the Cybercab nearly two years ago, and the Austin rollout turned that concept into a deployed service vehicle on public roads. September 4 is the next fixed date in the story after Tuesday’s online criticism: that was when NHTSA publicly announced AQ26002. The agency said the inquiry covers Tesla’s certification process, while Tesla has said it plans to expand Cybercab deployment beyond the initial Austin launch. (aventure.vc) (nhtsa.gov) (cnbc.com)