Tesla Keeps Cybercab Safety Documentation Secret
Questions Remain Unanswered
Tesla has submitted responses to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding the Cybercab’s compliance with safety standards. However, the documents made available to the public contain no substantive answers. The company has formally requested that the materials be kept entirely confidential and withheld from public view.
This follows a special order issued by the NHTSA in September. The regulator sought clarity on how the Cybercab meets federal standards given the vehicle lacks a steering wheel, pedals, or mirrors. Tesla submitted its documentation by the October 30 deadline, yet the files uploaded to the official registry are effectively empty. The only public document is an instruction manual for emergency services, which the company had already published earlier this summer.
Why This Matters
The NHTSA’s inquiries address fundamental issues, such as braking system control in the absence of a foot pedal, which is mandatory under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 135. The regulator also questioned how the vehicle was certified without the company requesting a special exemption, a path taken by competitors such as Zoox.
Tesla’s submission hides all arguments the company uses to claim its robotaxi meets safety requirements. Currently, approximately 1,000 Cybercabs are operating and serving customers in Austin, even as the basis for their certification remains hidden from the public.
What Happens Next
The NHTSA’s chief counsel will now decide whether to grant Tesla’s request for confidentiality. If the agency determines the documents do not constitute trade secrets, the information could be made public. Otherwise, Tesla’s robotaxis will continue to operate with certification details that remain unknown to everyone.
This case sets a significant precedent in the autonomous transport sector. While other companies, such as Waymo, publish their safety frameworks publicly, Tesla’s approach raises questions regarding transparency. For readers following the development of autonomous driving technologies, this event highlights the complexity of the legal and safety compliance process for driverless transport.