NHTSA Brake Rule Would End Robotaxi Production Cap: Public Comment Closes Tomorrow

NHTSA's proposed amendment to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 135 would eliminate the foot-pedal brake requirement for autonomous vehicles, removing the current 2,500-unit annual production cap that has constrained robotaxi deployment. The public comment period closes July 27, 2026, and if finalized, the rule would create a permanent federal certification pathway for pedal-free robotaxis like Tesla's Cybercab and Amazon's Zoox.