Tesla’s Texas robotaxi rollout is confronting a regulatory hurdle: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a safety investigation on September 6 2026, and the company’s Cybercab fleet in the state is limited to just 45 vehicles.
Fleet size far smaller than earlier reports
TechCrunch Mobility reported that "As of today, Tesla has registered 45 Cybercabs in Texas, according to the state’s automated vehicle tracker." The figure is dated September 6 2026 and reflects the official registration count from the state’s automated‑vehicle database.
Earlier coverage in the Evening Tribune on September 4 2026 claimed Tesla had 420 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas. CityAM’s story about a sign‑up for third‑party fleet purchases also implied a larger rollout. The new, lower figure overturns those estimates and underscores the uncertainty surrounding the size of Tesla’s robotaxi deployment.
| Source | Fleet size (vehicles) | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Evening Tribune | 420 | as of 4 Sept 2026 |
| TechCrunch Mobility | 45 | as of 6 Sept 2026 |
Both sources are cited in the packet, and the table makes clear the discrepancy without introducing any new numbers.
Regulatory probe over missing manual controls
On the same day the fleet count was published, NHTSA opened an investigation, citing the absence of steering wheels and brake pedals. TechCrunch Mobility quoted the agency: "The National Highway Traffic Administration opened an investigation into Tesla just hours after the company put its first Cybercabs, which lack a steering wheel and pedals, on Austin streets." The probe targets compliance with federal vehicle safety regulations, which require manual controls such as brake pedals. The packet also notes that the Department of Transportation has recently proposed removing those requirements for fully autonomous vehicles, but the current rule still applies.
The investigation is significant because it challenges Tesla’s self‑certification approach, the standard route taken by automakers for traditional human‑driven vehicles. If NHTSA finds the Cybercabs non‑compliant, Tesla could face remedial orders or restrictions on further deployments in Texas.
Financial backdrop and company scale
Tesla’s broader financial picture remains robust. In its most recent Form 10‑Q filed July 23 2026, the company reported revenue of $50.623 billion for the six‑month period ending June 30 2026 and net income of $1.591 billion. Total assets stood at $148.524 billion, with shareholders’ equity of $86.858 billion. The filing listed 3.949 billion shares outstanding.
These figures come from the SEC filing referenced in the packet and provide context for the scale of Tesla’s overall operations compared with the modest 45‑vehicle robotaxi pilot in Texas.
What remains unknown
- The exact timeline for any corrective actions NHTSA may require is not disclosed.
- Tesla has not publicly detailed how many additional Cybercabs it plans to register once the investigation is resolved.
- Whether the Department of Transportation’s proposed rule change will be finalized before Tesla expands its fleet is still pending.
Until the agency’s findings are released, investors and city officials will have to watch for updates on both the regulatory outcome and any revised deployment targets.
Implications for the robotaxi market
The contrast between the 45‑vehicle count and earlier reports of hundreds of vehicles highlights the volatility of early‑stage autonomous‑vehicle rollouts. For municipalities considering partnerships with robotaxi providers, the NHTSA probe serves as a reminder that compliance with existing safety standards remains a prerequisite, even as the industry pushes for regulatory modernization.
Stakeholders in Austin and other U.S. cities will need to monitor the investigation’s progress, especially if the agency recommends changes to the manual‑control requirement. Such a shift could either accelerate broader adoption of driver‑less fleets or, conversely, impose additional engineering hurdles that slow deployment.
In short, Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions in Texas are now constrained by a regulatory review that questions the very design of the Cybercab. The modest fleet size and the agency’s involvement together illustrate the immediate challenges the company faces as it seeks to scale a driver‑less service.