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yesterday

Tesla’s Austin Robotaxis Prompt Federal Probe and Lawmaker Push for Oversight

Equipped with human safety monitors, the service faces an NHTSA investigation following multiple road errors alongside Texas lawmakers’ new permit demands.

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'Downright Unsafe': Austin Man Takes a Tesla Robotaxi Ride. Here's What To Know Before Hailing One Yourself: Tesla Model Y, Autonomous Vehicles

Overview

  • Tesla deployed 10–20 Model Y robotaxis on June 22 in a limited Austin zone with a human safety monitor in the front passenger seat.
  • Riders and online videos have documented at least 11 driving errors, including wrong-lane navigation, curb strikes and sudden, unexplained stops.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the incidents under its risk-based process and has requested additional data from Tesla.
  • State lawmakers led by Senator Sarah Eckhardt have called for Tesla to delay wider rollout until September’s new AV permitting rules, seeking detailed safety and emergency response plans.
  • Experts warn Tesla’s camera-only navigation trails competitors such as Waymo, whose LIDAR-equipped fleet records fewer safety concerns per vehicle per day.