DOT Proposes Eliminating Brake Pedal Mandates for Autonomous Vehicles

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed new federal vehicle regulations on June 25, 2026, that would eliminate the requirement for brake pedals in vehicles designed exclusively for automated driving systems. The proposal, introduced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as part of its Automated Vehicle Framework, aims to remove regulatory barriers for companies developing purpose-built robotaxis, such as Tesla's Cybercab and Zoox's autonomous fleet.

Currently, manufacturers of vehicles without steering wheels or pedals must seek individual exemptions from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which also restrict the number of vehicles allowed on public roads. While the new rule would remove the physical pedal mandate, the NHTSA will continue to enforce strict braking performance and stopping distance standards. This change applies only to fully autonomous designs; vehicles with manual controls must still follow existing standards.

Alongside this proposal, the NHTSA withdrew a separate plan for a voluntary national evaluation framework following criticism from automakers regarding stringent requirements and concerns from safety advocates over oversight. The public has 30 days to provide comments before the agency makes a final decision on the rule changes.