Regulators Question Tesla Cybercab’s Steering-Wheel‑Free Design; UK Automakers Plan New Hybrid SUVs

# What happened Administration (NHTSA) has formally asked Tesla to explain how the Cybercab—a two-seat, driverless taxi that lacks a steering wheel, pedals, and conventional mirrors—was certified as compliant with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Regulators want specifics about whether the vehicle has any capability for human control and whether temporary driver controls or other equipment were part of Tesla's basis for self-certification.

# Why regulators are asking questions FMVSS defines many safety requirements for vehicles, including how they are controlled. The Cybercab's interior omits traditional controls, so NHTSA's order requests that Tesla state whether the vehicle can be driven with traditional controls and whether occupants have access to touchscreen controls capable of moving or maneuvering the car. The automaker has until a deadline set in the order to respond.

# What's inside the Cybercab

# Regulatory implications If a vehicle is certified under FMVSS as a conventional motor vehicle, regulators expect it to meet the rules that assume human driving controls exist. If Tesla certifies the Cybercab as compliant while the vehicle lacks those controls, NHTSA's questions aim to determine whether the company relied on alternate interpretations, temporary equipment, or an omission in its certification paperwork.

# Other industry moves in the UK McLaren: Under new Abu Dhabi ownership, McLaren plans to build a hybrid SUV and will invest £1.5 billion to update its U.K. operations, including a £500 million initial overhaul of the McLaren Production Centre in Woking. The SUV is positioned to compete with high-end performance SUVs.

Nissan: Nissan will produce a new hybrid variant of the Kicks small SUV at its Sunderland plant in the U.K., investing £170 million to assemble the model alongside the Qashqai, Juke, and Leaf.

Both announcements indicate continued investment in U.K. vehicle manufacturing focused on hybrid powertrains.

# Bosch workers and the EU Bosch workers have appealed to the European Union, asking for intervention to preserve jobs. The report does not provide further detail on the scale of cuts or the EU's response in the supplied text.

# Bottom line for readers The Cybercab raises a clear regulatory question: how can a vehicle without conventional manual controls be certified under standards written for human-driven cars? NHTSA's order forces Tesla to clarify whether temporary or alternative controls were used in certification or whether the company interprets FMVSS differently. Separately, established automakers are expanding hybrid SUV production in the U.K., and Bosch-related job concerns are being taken to EU authorities.