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Tesla Austin Robotaxis Face NHTSA Investigation Over Traffic Violations

The driverless service is running under front-seat safety monitors in a controlled pilot during regulatory data collection.

A Tesla robotaxi drives on the street along South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, U.S., June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
FILE - A Waymo minivan arrives to pick up passengers for an autonomous vehicle ride, April 7, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Waymo driverless vehicles charge at a Waymo charging station in Santa Monica, California, U.S., May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole/File Photo
Tesla Tells Feds To Stay Tight-Lipped On Robotaxi Safety Data: News

Overview

  • Tesla launched its robotaxi operations in Austin on June 22 using Model Y vehicles equipped with onboard safety monitors and remote teleoperators.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a formal probe after social media videos showed robotaxis swerving into oncoming lanes and exceeding posted speed limits.
  • One vehicle stalled in the middle of the road when a pull-over command was issued, requiring repeated remote-operator intervention to resume the ride.
  • Industry experts warn that Tesla’s camera-only Full Self-Driving system faces significant hurdles to scale safely to millions of vehicles by next year.
  • Tesla shares fell about 1.4% in postmarket trading after Bloomberg reported the NHTSA inquiry following the launch.