Federal vehicle safety regulators have given the go-ahead for the production and deployment of self-drive vehicles that do not include steering wheels or pedals.
The final rules issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration eliminate the requirement that cars with automated driving systems include conventional controls.
The first-of-its-kind ruling allows companies to build and deploy vehicles without manual controls if they meet other safety regulations. Manual controls for backup safety drivers are included in current self-driving cars.
Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, said in a statement that safety standards will be an important part of USDOT's mission through the 2020s.
The new rule emphasizes the need for the same high levels of occupant protection as current passenger vehicles, which is why companies still need to meet other safety standards as well as federal, state and local regulations.
The rule was signed by NHTSA deputy administrator Steven S. Cliff, who wanted to clarify that a manufacturer of vehicles with automatic steering must still apply occupant protection standards.
The Cruise Origin is a self-driving vehicle that General GM and its self-driving unit asked NHTSA for permission to build.
GM and Cruise have said that they will begin production and deployment of the Origin in early 2023.
According to the NHTSA, GM and Cruise are among 30 or so companies or organizations that are allowed to test self-driving vehicles on U.S. roads. The companies are thought to be among the leaders in self-driving vehicles.
Musk promised at the event that his company would deliver a car without a steering wheel within two years.
Musk said at the time that once regulators were comfortable with us not having a steering wheel, they would just remove it. The steering wheel is very likely to be taken away.
CNBC's Lora Kolodny contributed to the report.
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