The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a safety probe into Tesla’s new Robotaxi service after its debut presented challenges. The US’s primary transportation safety regulator is requesting information from Tesla following videos that showed the self-driving cars exceeding speed limits and veering into incorrect lanes during their Austin, Texas, debut. This immediate regulatory attention underscores the intense oversight facing new autonomous technologies.
Tesla had vigorously promoted the limited rollout of its Robotaxis, utilizing pro-Tesla influencers to publicize the paid ride service. However, the very videos intended to showcase the technology’s prowess have ironically become a focal point for the NHTSA, as they appear to demonstrate the Robotaxis struggling to adhere to fundamental traffic laws. The agency’s proactive stance underscores its commitment to ensuring road safety.
One particularly troubling video, posted by a Tesla investor, captured a Robotaxi misjudging a left turn, momentarily entering an opposing traffic lane, and then correcting its path over a double yellow line. Another clip featured a pro-Tesla YouTuber praising the car for driving “several miles per hour over the speed limit,” clearly indicating a disregard for established traffic regulations. These incidents raise significant safety concerns.
This latest regulatory challenge comes as Tesla faces a period of declining sales and a substantial year-on-year profit drop in early 2025. With Elon Musk heavily invested in the Robotaxi program as the future of the company, this NHTSA inquiry, along with an existing investigation into Tesla’s “Full-Self Driving” mode, intensifies the pressure on the automaker to prove the safety and reliability of its autonomous aspirations.