Tesla begins offering steering-wheel-free Cybercab rides in Austin
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On September 3, 2026, Tesla began offering Robotaxi rides in limited areas of Austin, Texas, using the Cybercab, a two-seat vehicle designed for autonomous operation and without a steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal. Hours later, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an audit to examine how the model was certified under federal safety standards that remain in force.
MIT Technology Review Brasil presents the case as an advance in a broader shift: instead of merely adding autonomy to conventional cars, companies are beginning to remove components designed for human driving. Earlier reports from the publication had already pointed to the expansion of Level 4 robotaxis in defined areas, the continued use of remote supervision in exceptional situations, and new safety and cybersecurity risks as more decisions move to software and sensors.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
Offering rides in a vehicle without driving controls puts the certification of autonomous designs at the center of the debate, especially because NHTSA opened an audit of the Cybercab. The case also concentrates safety and cybersecurity questions linked to shifting decisions to software and sensors.
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