Story perspectives

NHTSA Orders Tesla Sworn Cybercab Compliance Answers by Sept. 30

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 10:19 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Tesla skips Part 555

NHTSA issued a Special Order on September 10 requiring Tesla to provide sworn answers about its Cybercab compliance by September 30.
Tesla self-certified the driverless Cybercab without obtaining a Part 555 exemption, unlike competitor Zoox.
The order contains 21 detailed requests and is signed by NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser.
Violations could bring penalties up to $139 million, criminal fines, or imprisonment of up to 15 years.

Right

Brake by wire

NHTSA issued a Special Order on September 10 demanding Tesla submit sworn compliance answers for its Cybercab by September 30.
Tesla urges riders to master controls, obey safety rules, and warns that loss of power with a raised window could shatter glass.
The Cybercab uses a brake-by-wire system with electronic actuators instead of hydraulic lines.
The rider guide bans children under 13 and notes the vehicle lacks LATCH child-seat anchors.

Blindspot

Tesla self-certified its driverless Cybercab without obtaining a Part 555 exemption, a step that competitor Zoox did not take, according to NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In 2012 NHTSA used Part 555 of Title 49 regulations to grant Google a temporary exemption for autonomous-vehicle testing, marking the agency’s first formal approval of self-driving prototypes. The agency now issues a September 10, 2024 Special Order to Tesla’s Cybercab, echoing the 2012 precedent but adding 21 detailed requests and potential $139 million penalties, showing regulators are tightening oversight of manufacturers such as Zoox and Tesla before market rollout.

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Tesla skips Part 555

NHTSA issued a Special Order on September 10 requiring Tesla to provide sworn answers about its Cybercab compliance by September 30.
Tesla self-certified the driverless Cybercab without obtaining a Part 555 exemption, unlike competitor Zoox.
The order contains 21 detailed requests and is signed by NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser.
Violations could bring penalties up to $139 million, criminal fines, or imprisonment of up to 15 years.

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