Tesla begins Cybercab service in Austin; children under 13 barred and NHTSA opens audit
Tesla began commercial Cybercab rides in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 3; company rider guidance bars children under 13 from riding the vehicle “at this time” and imposes other passenger restrictions.
Fox News reported the rollout and published details from Tesla’s public rider guide, including that teens ages 13 through 17 may ride only if accompanied by an adult for the entire trip. By contrast, Fox News said Tesla’s Model Y Robotaxi guidance allows children ages 8 through 17 to ride with an adult and bars guests under 8. The company did not explain the reason for the differing age limits.
Fox News reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Sept. 4 that it opened an Audit Query into Tesla’s certification of the Cybercab following the vehicle’s commercial deployment; the outlet said the audit reportedly covers about 1,000 Cybercabs. Fox News noted that an audit does not mean regulators have found the vehicle unsafe but requires Tesla to provide technical information supporting its certification under applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
The Cybercab has no steering wheel, pedals or mirrors and relies on cameras and automated systems for driving, Fox News reported. Tesla’s rider guidance, as summarized by Fox News, says the vehicle can respond to collisions by deploying airbags, unlocking doors, switching on hazard and interior lights, disabling the high-voltage battery, venting the windows and applying the brakes until the vehicle stops. The system can also open a two-way connection to a Robotaxi Support team.
Fox News reported specific rider controls and emergency features: a dedicated Stop button placed between the dome lights that sends a pull-over request, ends the ride and connects riders with Robotaxi Support; a Pull Over option on the touchscreen; and the ability to request a stop through the Robotaxi app. Tesla warns that an “immediate” pull-over request may still take time if the vehicle must reach a safe stopping point on a highway.
Fox News said Cybercab lacks LATCH/ISOFIX child-restraint anchors; a booster seat must be secured by a seat belt. The outlet also reported that Cybercab uses electronically controlled doors with a visible mechanical release; Tesla warns that using the mechanical release when the vehicle has no power and the window is fully raised could damage glass or trim. Fox News further reported that Cybercab windows “cannot be fully opened at this time.”
Fox News described additional technical details from Tesla’s materials, including that Cybercab uses a brake-by-wire system rather than traditional hydraulic braking. The outlet also relayed an attendee’s report that cabin USB-C ports can deliver up to 90 watts, a figure not listed in Tesla’s current public rider guide and treated in the report as an early figure pending official specifications.
Fox News noted operational rules that Tesla has published: every passenger must be buckled before the ride begins, and the vehicle may pull over or cancel a trip if it detects improper seat-belt use. The outlet’s account repeats the company guidance without independent verification.
Source: Latest & Breaking News on Fox News
