The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into Tesla’s newly unveiled robotaxi, the Cybercab. The agency is reviewing the vehicle’s design and assessing its compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards. This investigation follows Tesla’s recent rollout of the autonomous vehicle, which lacks traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals.

NHTSA’s scrutiny focuses on whether the Cybercab meets existing safety requirements for occupant protection, crashworthiness, and operational safety in real-world conditions. The probe could influence regulatory approval and public deployment timelines for Tesla’s robotaxi service. Tesla has not yet commented formally on the investigation.

The outcome may affect how autonomous vehicles are certified and regulated moving forward, particularly those with unconventional designs.