Tesla Cybertaxi has started operations in Austin, but investigations by regulatory authorities and a lack of information are adding uncertainty to the market.
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Tesla's stock price recorded $354.08, a 5.92% decrease from the previous day, giving back all of the gains from the day before. Along with this, SpaceX's stock price also fell by 1.2% to $147.95.
Tesla's decline significantly exceeded the Nasdaq index's drop by more than 20 times, showing an independent downward trend regardless of overall market movements. The U.S. market is currently holding steady ahead of employment data releases, and Tesla's decline is attributed to its own specific events.
The Cybertaxi event in Austin was limited to invited guests and was not livestreamed. Furthermore, important information such as specific pricing policies or the number of units to be supplied was not announced, disappointing the market. Amidst this situation, Wall Street's Wells Fargo published a negative evaluation report on Tesla.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it has initiated an investigation into Tesla's Cybertaxi. This action was taken on the same day that Cybertaxi operations began in Austin. Some market experts, including Gary Black, are emphasizing the regulatory risks stemming from this action.
Since Tesla has not sufficiently disclosed information regarding the Cybertaxi, conflicting forecasts are emerging in the market. Gene Munster anticipates that over 300 additional Cybertaxis will be added within the next month, offering a positive outlook. On the other hand, some express concerns, emphasizing regulatory risks, making information opacity a factor contributing to stock price volatility.
Cybertaxi's public release, originally scheduled for 5 PM on Friday, was moved up by three hours to 2 PM due to high demand. Initial wait times of around 5 minutes have now increased to over an hour, and the service operates on a dynamic pricing model.
The NHTSA's investigation into the Cybertaxi has been confirmed as a 'certification audit' (investigation number AQ26002), not a recall or an order to cease operations. This investigation was not initiated due to specific accident records.
Tesla self-certified and notified authorities that the Cybertaxi meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. It was confirmed that the Cybertaxi does not have manual controls, prompting NHTSA to begin investigating the certification data submitted by Tesla.
The United States adopts a self-certification system for automotive safety, where manufacturers assure compliance with federal safety standards themselves. This means the government does not inspect all vehicles in advance; instead, it requests supporting data only when a manufacturer's claims are questioned.
The Cybertaxi is the first to introduce a 'brake-by-wire' electronic braking system, which eliminates brake fluid, piping, and the master cylinder. In this system, electronic actuators attached to each wheel directly control the brakes, removing the hydraulic system and offering advantages such as simplified processes and minimized maintenance.
Elon Musk stated that the Cybertaxi's motors successfully maintained their original driving range despite containing no rare earth elements. This was a significantly challenging technical feat and holds strategic importance in reducing supply chain dependence on China.
On June 26, an amendment to FMVSS 135, the standard for light vehicle braking systems, was announced. Enacted in 1995, this standard operated for 31 years under the assumption that a person presses the brake pedal, but this revision differentiates standards based on the presence of manual controls. However, braking performance requirements apply universally to all vehicles.
The NHTSA investigation document specifies 1,000 target vehicles, but only 45 Cybertaxis are currently registered and operating in Texas. This raises questions about the basis for setting the investigation scope.
A portal for expressing interest in purchasing Cybertaxi was quietly opened on Tesla's website on September 3. This portal collects information on corporate customers' purchase intent and desired regions for Cybertaxi, which is expected to be the first official channel for mass production of Cybertaxis.
Currently, the Cybertaxi purchase interest page does not specify pricing or concrete delivery schedules. The market is keenly interested in whether the Cybertaxi's price will be below $30,000.
Famous IT YouTuber Marques Brownlee pledged to shave his head and donate it if the Cybertaxi is delivered to customers for under $30,000 before 2027. This extends the timeframe and expands the scope of his previous 2026 bet.
The current NHTSA investigation into the Cybertaxi is at the 'certification audit' stage, which does not grant the authority to halt vehicle operations. No order to cease operations has been issued for the 45 Cybertaxi vehicles currently in service. This investigation may only transition to a recall if defects are confirmed in the future.
The full-scale deployment of Cybertaxi signals that the era of purchasing cars with heavy installment payments is coming to an end. The proliferation of robotaxis is expected to bring about changes in personal car purchases and installment repayment methods, replacing the private car ownership model.
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