EVwire brief: NHTSA has granted Tesla a 30-day extension to respond to its special order on the Cybercab's compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), with the new deadline set for October 30.
Tesla had asked for an eight-week extension to November 20, citing "the voluminous nature of the request" and the need to search its records, review material for responsiveness and privilege, and prepare thorough narrative answers to each question. The NHTSA granted 30 days instead, moving the deadline from the original September 30 date, according to an agency memo dated September 29.
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Context:
NHTSA opened its Audit Query on the Cybercab on September 3, the same day Tesla began commercial Cybercab service in Austin, to evaluate Tesla's basis for certifying the purpose-built robotaxi as compliant with all applicable FMVSS. The agency followed up with the special order on September 10.
The order contains 21 requests. NHTSA asked Tesla to list every FMVSS it certified the Cybercab to and explain how it determined compliance with each one, including whether temporarily installed human driver controls were part of that process. Several requests focus on standards written with human drivers in mind, such as FMVSS No. 135's requirement that service brakes be activated by a foot control. The Cybercab uses brake-by-wire and has no pedals.
NHTSA also asked about touchscreen controls that let occupants move the vehicle, similar to the virtual joystick on the Cybercab's screen, as well as where the Cybercab operates today and how Tesla plans to scale commercial operations. As EVwire's Jaan noted on X, a failure to respond fully or truthfully can result in civil penalties of up to $27,874 per day, to a maximum of $139,356,994.
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