On the first day of Tesla Robotaxi's launch, it may have violated traffic regulations, prompting an investigation by U.S. regulators
Tesla's Robotaxi may have violated traffic regulations on its first day of operation in Austin, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation. The agency stated that it is in contact with Tesla for more information, and the investigation involves issues such as speeding and driving in the wrong lane. Although limited in scale, this test drive marks the first real-world testing of Tesla's autonomous driving technology. Tesla's stock price rose over 2% following the news
According to the Zhitong Finance APP, the U.S. automotive safety regulator is investigating an incident involving Tesla (TSLA.US) that may have violated traffic regulations on the first day of its Robotaxi autonomous driving taxi service in Austin.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated, "We are aware of the incident and are in contact with the manufacturer for more information."
Videos online show that the Tesla autonomous taxi was speeding, and another autonomous vehicle drove into the wrong lane.
The agency pointed out that it does not "pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems—rather, manufacturers must demonstrate that each vehicle meets NHTSA's strict safety standards, and the agency will investigate incidents involving potential safety defects. After assessing these reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take all necessary measures to ensure road safety."
Tesla began offering paid ride services to select customers in South Austin on Sunday. Although limited in scale, this trial marks the company's first real-world testing of its autonomous vehicle technology.
This autonomous taxi service uses Tesla Model Y vehicles, which are equipped with the company's advanced full self-driving software version, a camera-based sensor suite, and powered by artificial intelligence, differing from many competitors that use additional sensors such as lidar and radar.
As of the time of publication, Tesla's pre-market shares rose over 2%. The stock closed up more than 8% on Monday
