The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering a rule change that would allow driverless cars to be sold without steering wheels or brake pedals.
NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison told CNBC that requiring manual controls for vehicles designed never to be driven by a human is unnecessary.
The agency recently moved to revise federal safety standards, including removing the mandate for brake pedals in autonomous vehicles.
Tesla stands to benefit significantly if the changes are implemented. Its Cybercab, unveiled in late 2024, was originally designed without a steering wheel or pedals.
However, Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm acknowledged last year that the company would add those controls if regulations required it.
Recent prototypes have been spotted testing with a steering wheel and pedals.
If the law allows, Tesla could sell fleet versions without manual controls while offering private buyers the option to drive their Cybercabs manually when not in autonomous mode.
It remains unclear whether Elon Musk's political contributions have influenced the NHTSA's push to update regulations.
