Tesla’s new rectangular steering wheel has raised eyebrows since it was announced this week, and not just among fans and critics.
The national highway traffic safety administration has begun investigating the unusual control interface, Motor1 first reported.
“At this time, NHTSA cannot determine if the steering wheel meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. We will contact the automaker for more information,” the agency confirmed in a statement to Fox News Autos.
Along with its aircraft yoke shape, the wheel has no control stems at the rear.
Only a few photos have been revealed, which appear to have the thumb buttons on the touchpad on the left wheel for the flashing lights and more for the windshield wiper and horn on the right.
Ferrari currently uses large wheel-mounted buttons to operate the turn signals, but taking Tesla is unique.
“Tesla’s history comes as no surprise when they announce new safety features as if they are easily reversible updates to a mobile phone instead of operating a multi-ton vehicle,” said Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Motor Safety, said.
“While it is possible to design a new steering wheel safely, we look forward to hearing the conclusion of NHTSA’s question whether it did Tesla here.”
The Tesla Model 3 and Y use a conventional steering wheel with stems, but the controls for their windscreen wipers are split between a button on the left stem that provides a single wipe or cleaning syringe and wipe when pressed while touching the screen. used to fully turn them on and adjust their speed. There is also a rain detection automated feature available which is a beta feature being developed.
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Tesla also offers voice commands for many systems, and the new wheel design could be a reflection of that, along with the company’s promise to provide full autonomous driving capability by 2021.
NHTSA recently updated its regulations so that autonomous cars can be built without steering wheel or pedals, but only if it is primarily designed to drive without a human driver.
The new wheel was fitted in the updated Model S and Mode X, which had just come into production, while prototypes for the upcoming Cybertruck and Roadster had a similar design.
Elon Musk elaborated on Twitter on how the car works without a handle for a transmission voter who says: “Car guesses direction based on the obstacles it sees, context and navigation map.
He added it: “After spending a few days without a PRND stem / stick, it becomes very annoying to go back and use a shifter!”
NHTSA recently encouraged Tesla to call in 158,000 vehicles due to possible touch screen, as several essential safety systems have to make the show work.
This story has been updated with Musk’s comments