Tesla faces wider probe of self-driving feature as it prepares to sell cars without steering wheels - AP News

AP News
March 19, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Federal regulators are expanding their investigation into Tesla's self-driving system as the company prepares to sell fully autonomous vehicles.

How This Affects You

If you purchase a Tesla with self-driving capabilities, expanded regulatory scrutiny may delay full autonomous features or reveal safety issues affecting vehicle performance and resale value.

AI Summary

Federal regulators are expanding their investigation into Tesla's self-driving technology as the company moves forward with plans to manufacture and sell vehicles without traditional steering wheels. The widened probe suggests growing scrutiny of Tesla's autonomous driving capabilities and their safety implications. Tesla has been promoting its "Full Self-Driving" features, but regulators appear concerned about the readiness of both the technology and the vehicles themselves for operation without manual controls. The investigation could delay or complicate Tesla's timeline for releasing steering-wheel-free vehicles to the market. This regulatory pressure reflects ongoing tension between automakers pushing autonomous vehicle technology and government agencies tasked with ensuring public safety.

What's Being Done

Federal regulators have widened their probe into Tesla's self-driving feature.

Should this be getting more attention?

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