Tesla has started paid Cybercab robotaxi rides in Texas, but the steering-wheel-free EV is already facing scrutiny from federal safety regulators.

The launch is also putting the company in uncharted regulatory territory.

The two-seat Cybercab has no steering wheel, pedals, or conventional mirrors, raising questions about whether it complies with existing U.S. vehicle safety standards.

NHTSA Opens an Audit

Just hours after Tesla’s Austin rollout event, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an audit covering around 1,000 Cybercab vehicles.

The agency wants to examine how Tesla determined that the vehicles comply with federal safety requirements.

Tesla’s Cybercab has entered paid service in Austin without conventional driving controls.

Current U.S. safety standards were largely written for vehicles operated by human drivers and include requirements for traditional manual controls.

That creates a significant challenge for a vehicle designed from the beginning to operate without them.

Tesla Is Betting on Self-Driving

The Cybercab is central to Elon Musk’s broader strategy of making autonomous driving and robotics major parts of Tesla’s business.

Tesla began producing the Cybercab in April and has said production could increase rapidly.

The Cybercab represents Tesla’s push toward fully autonomous transportation and purpose-built robotaxis.

Tesla previously said the Cybercab could eventually cost less than $30,000, although the company has not provided a confirmed mass-market price.

The company already operates a limited robotaxi service using Model Y SUVs in Texas and Florida. Those vehicles retain conventional controls and, in some cases, have human backup drivers.

How Can a Control-Free Vehicle Reach U.S. Roads?

U.S. manufacturers generally rely on self-certification rather than receiving regulatory approval before introducing new vehicles.

There is also an NHTSA exemption pathway for vehicles that do not meet certain safety standards, but that process limits deployment to 2,500 vehicles per year.

Tesla’s Cybercab faces questions over how a vehicle without conventional controls can be deployed at scale under current U.S. regulations.

Tesla’s engineering chief has said the Cybercab would not be subject to that annual limit, although the company has not publicly explained the regulatory pathway in detail.

There is a precedent for the uncertainty.

Zoox previously attempted to use self-certification for its own control-free robotaxi, but later withdrew the claim after an NHTSA investigation. The company eventually received a federal exemption for limited commercial deployment.

That leaves the Tesla Cybercab facing a potentially important regulatory battle. Tesla could continue expanding the service while regulators evaluate its compliance, but any disagreement with NHTSA could ultimately end up in court.

The Vietnamese electric taxi operator is targeting the U.S., Sweden, and the Netherlands ahead of a planned 2028 Hong Kong IPO.

Green and Smart Mobility, better known as GSM, is preparing for a major international expansion.

The Vietnamese electric taxi company, which is closely linked to VinFast, plans to enter the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands by the end of 2026, with additional European markets targeted for 2027.

The expansion is part of GSM’s preparations for a planned Hong Kong IPO in 2028.

GSM Targets the U.S. and Europe

GSM launched in Vietnam in 2023 and quickly gained market share using fleets made up exclusively of VinFast electric vehicles.

The company recently expanded into Denmark and now wants to establish a larger presence overseas.

GSM plans to deploy company-owned electric taxi fleets in the U.S., Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Initially, GSM expects to operate its own vehicles with employed drivers in the U.S. and European Union.

The company eventually plans to move toward a platform model that could incorporate independent drivers and partners.

A Capital-Heavy Business Model

GSM’s approach differs from companies such as Uber and Grab, which largely rely on drivers who provide their own vehicles.

GSM instead purchases VinFast vehicles at discounted prices and operates fleets with company-employed drivers.

GSM operates company-owned electric vehicles, creating a more capital-intensive model than traditional ride-hailing platforms.

The company has said it plans to purchase 1 million VinFast vehicles between 2026 and 2030.

However, analysts have warned that maintaining company-owned fleets across multiple international markets could require substantial external financing unless vehicle utilization and operating cash flow improve.

GSM is also shifting toward a hybrid operating model in Vietnam, where around 40% of vehicles on its platform are currently company-owned.

Expansion Comes Ahead of the IPO

GSM has not disclosed its targeted valuation or fundraising amount for the planned Hong Kong listing.

Its advisers have previously suggested a valuation of around $20 billion.

GSM is targeting a 2028 Hong Kong IPO as it expands its electric taxi operations internationally.

The company remains closely connected to VinFast, whose CEO Pham Nhat Vuong and his family own GSM.

VinFast sold nearly 200,000 vehicles in 2025, with around 11% sold overseas.

GSM’s share of VinFast’s vehicle sales has declined from much higher levels in previous years but is expected to remain above 20% in the coming years.

The challenge for GSM electric taxi expansion will be proving that its company-owned fleet model can achieve enough utilization in new markets to support the costs of international growth.

Kia America sold 83,793 vehicles in August, setting a new monthly sales record as hybrid and electrified models delivered major gains.

Kia America delivered its best month ever in August 2026.

The automaker sold 83,793 vehicles, up 1% from August 2025 and enough to set a new all-time monthly sales record.

Retail sales also reached a record for August at 77,984 units.

Hybrid Sales Nearly Double

Kia’s electrified lineup was a major driver of the record result.

Hybrid sales jumped 99% year over year, while total electrified vehicle sales increased 36%.

Kia sold a record 83,793 vehicles in August, with hybrid models driving a major portion of the growth.

For the first eight months of 2026, Kia sold 590,377 vehicles, an all-time high and a 3% increase from the same period last year.

Retail sales also climbed 3% to 543,085 units.

Six Models Set August Records

Six major Kia nameplates achieved their best-ever August sales.

The Seltos led the growth with a 53% increase, while Carnival sales climbed 13%.

K4 sales rose 7%, while Telluride, Sportage, and K5 each increased 4%.

The Seltos, Sportage, Telluride, Carnival, K4, and K5 all posted record August sales.

Several hybrid models also reached new August records.

Sportage Hybrid sales increased 40%, Sorento Hybrid rose 22%, and Carnival Hybrid gained 15%.

The Sportage was Kia’s strongest seller in August with 18,723 units, followed by the Telluride with 12,693 and the K4 with 12,881.

EV3 Expands Kia’s Electric Lineup

Kia also announced pricing for the new 2027 EV3, which starts at $29,890 before destination.

The compact electric SUV offers up to an EPA-estimated 321 miles of range, depending on configuration.

The 2027 Kia EV3 starts at $29,890 and offers up to 321 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Kia also announced pricing for the 2027 Sportage and refreshed Niro.

The new Niro starts at $29,890 and will be offered exclusively as a hybrid, while the gas-powered Sportage starts at $28,990.

With record overall sales and rapidly growing hybrid demand, Kia August 2026 sales show strong momentum heading into the final months of the year.