WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Transportation proposed changes to federal vehicle regulations on June 25, 2026, to permit companies to remove brake pedals in vehicles designed solely for automated driving systems. The public has a 30-day period to submit comments on the proposal before the Department of Transportation decides whether to approve the changes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) previously proposed removing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards requirements for windshield wiping and defogging systems and tire placards. The NHTSA also finalized a rule during the Biden administration that allowed autonomous vehicles to operate without steering wheels. Companies developing autonomous vehicles that lack parts required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards must currently seek an exemption from the federal government, and regulations limit the number of exempted autonomous vehicles that can operate even if an exemption is granted.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison stated that the current period represents a major shift in vehicle technology. "We are at the cusp of the greatest technological revolution in vehicle technology since the innovation of the Model T," Morrison said. He added, "If we want America to lead the way, we have to reimagine our regulatory framework."

Morrison also referred to a framework established by Secretary Sean Duffy. "That's why under Secretary Sean Duffy's AV Framework, NHTSA is tearing down pointless barriers to innovative designs while strengthening the fundamental safety requirements that matter and holding AV developers accountable for safe performance," Morrison said.

Zoox received an exemption from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards last year, on June 25, 2025, to demonstrate its purpose-built robotaxi. Zoox has since applied for an additional exemption to operate its robotaxi commercially and is awaiting a decision on that application. Waymo currently utilizes retrofitted or modified versions of standard vehicles, such as the Jaguar I-Pace, which retain manual controls.

Tesla is developing a two-seater vehicle named the Cybercab, which is intended to operate without a steering wheel or pedals. Tesla has not submitted an application for an exemption to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for steering wheels or pedals. The company has operated a small robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, for the past year, initially with safety drivers in the front seats. Tesla has since removed these safety drivers to allow the vehicles to operate without supervision. Tesla informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it employs teleoperators to monitor its vehicles. These teleoperators can remotely move vehicles at low speeds in rare instances, such as after crashes or to avoid obstacles.