Tesla’s Austin Robotaxis Hit Early Snags, Draw Federal Scrutiny
Tesla’s Austin Robotaxis Hit Early Snags, Draw Federal Scrutiny
Tesla’s much-anticipated robotaxi service, which debuted in Austin, Texas, just this past Sunday, is already facing federal scrutiny after videos surfaced online showing chaotic driving incidents. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) confirmed on Monday that it has contacted Tesla following widespread social media posts detailing erratic behavior from the autonomous vehicles.
The viral videos depicted several concerning incidents, including one Tesla robotaxi traveling the wrong way down a public road and another abruptly braking in the middle of traffic, reportedly in response to stationary police vehicles outside its driving path. These early missteps have quickly raised questions about the safety and reliability of the nascent service.
A spokesperson for NHTSA stated in an email that the agency “is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.” While the federal safety regulator clarifies it does not “pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems,” it is mandated to investigate “incidents involving potential safety defects” and take “necessary actions to protect road safety.” This latest inquiry adds to an existing, ongoing NHTSA investigation into possible safety defects with Tesla’s FSD-Supervised technology, following previous accidents that resulted in injuries and fatalities.
The pilot robotaxi service in Austin is currently limited to fewer than two dozen Model Y SUVs equipped with Tesla’s latest FSD Unsupervised software and hardware. The service operates only during daylight hours and in good weather, with a human safety supervisor always present in the front passenger seat. Access is restricted to a select group of invited users, largely composed of Tesla product and stock promoters.
Despite the immediate challenges and regulatory attention, the launch did provide a temporary boost to Tesla’s shares, which climbed 8% on Monday. However, these early incidents underscore the significant hurdles in achieving the full autonomy Elon Musk has frequently promised over the past decade. Tesla’s ambitious timelines for widespread robotaxi deployment have consistently fallen short, contrasting with competitors like Alphabet-owned Waymo, which recently announced it surpassed 10 million paid trips, and various commercial robotaxi fleets already operating in China.
As NHTSA continues its communication with Tesla, the performance of these early robotaxi trials will be closely watched, shaping public perception and the future regulatory landscape for autonomous vehicle technology.
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