U.S. Safety Regulators Seek Info from Tesla After Robotaxi Incidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting information from Tesla following the appearance of online videos showing one of the company’s driverless robotaxis allegedly driving in the wrong lane and another exceeding the speed limit.
In a statement, NHTSA confirmed it is “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.” The agency routinely investigates reports of questionable behavior involving automated driving systems or advanced driver assistance technologies.
The inquiry comes shortly after Tesla launched a limited, paid robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas, deploying about a dozen self-driving vehicles on Sunday. The service currently avoids bad weather, complex intersections, and prohibits riders under the age of 18.
NHTSA emphasized that it does not pre-approve new vehicle technologies. Instead, automakers are responsible for certifying that their vehicles meet federal safety standards. The agency investigates any potential safety defects that arise.
According to Bloomberg News, the agency sent its inquiry to Tesla earlier on Monday. Tesla did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
On the same day, Tesla told NHTSA that its responses regarding the safety of its robotaxi operations in Texas are considered confidential business information and should not be disclosed publicly.
NHTSA is currently reviewing Tesla’s answers to questions about the safety of the robotaxi system, including its performance in adverse weather conditions.
This follows an ongoing NHTSA investigation, opened in October, into collisions involving Tesla vehicles operating on Full Self-Driving (FSD) software during low-visibility conditions. That probe covers approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles, and was prompted by four reported crashes, one of which was fatal in 2023.