Canada exempts steer-by-wire use in Cybertruck

Transport Canada has announced an exemption for a steer-by-wire steering system in Tesla Cybertruck. This could be a major clearance in the launch of the electric pickup truck in the country.

The Transport Canada Minister has granted this exception under Section 9 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act for a time period. However, Tesla will have to meet new safety features and the terms and conditions of Transport Canada to clear all regulations.

Steer by Wire is a unique steering system. Its steering and wheels are connected with electrical signals compared to a physical connection. When the user moves the wheel, it connects to the wheel and rotates them.

Tesla has improved this concept and took it two steps further by using it on the rear wheels, making the whole vehicle more maneuverable. Despite having a lot of positive sides, this technology required maximum scrutiny from regulators. This is due to its immature adaptation in the vehicle industry and low safety data.

The exemption will allow Tesla Motors Canada to use a “high variable steer-by-wire system that doesn’t have the minimum steering angle of around 270 degrees as required for testing.

The EV company needs to meet certain terms first. That includes half-yearly including report submission to the transport ministry. This report schedule will start on January 18, 2025, and include a description of all steering system malfunctions or failures in both hardware and software. That expands to the cause and where the customer resolves the issue with a service center.

Tesla needs to describe the corrective measures taken on the steering system malfunctions. The report must also include customer complaints or comments regarding the steering system.

Furthermore, Transport Canada will also require any changes in this system via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Amid this exemption, there’s no data available about when the Cybertruck can go on sale in Canada.