Tesla’s new robotaxi fleet, revealed less than a week ago, already faces intense scrutiny from federal regulators. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that it has initiated an investigation. Officials say Tesla’s autonomous vehicles may pose safety risks to passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers.
Tesla Robotaxi under fedaral inverstigation just days after reveal!
Tesla’s robotaxi project, still in its pilot phase, promises full autonomy without steering wheels or pedals. Elon Musk unveiled the futuristic cars during a livestream on June 20, claiming they would revolutionize urban mobility.
Within hours, videos flooded social media showing early robotaxi test drives across California and Texas. Footage included abrupt stops, confusing maneuvers, and a near-collision with a pedestrian in San Jose.
Sources inside the Department of Transportation said regulators responded immediately. “We need to ensure these vehicles meet the highest safety standards,” a spokesperson said.
Concerns about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software
The NHTSA has already requested detailed data from Tesla, including crash reports, disengagement rates, and software logs. Officials are especially concerned about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software powering the robotaxi network.
Tesla declined to comment but shared a short blog post defending the system’s safety. “Our FSD platform continues to outperform human drivers,” the statement read. “Robotaxis operate with 360° vision and real-time data processing.”
Regulators remain skeptical. They argue that Tesla’s driverless ambitions skipped key steps in traditional vehicle certification. The absence of manual controls raised red flags about how passengers can intervene during emergencies.
Former NHTSA advisor Susan Fowler warned about rushing robotaxis onto public roads. “Autonomy must not outpace accountability,” she told TechCrunch. “We’ve seen this before with Autopilot.”
Consumer groups also voiced concerns. The Center for Auto Safety urged Tesla to halt the pilot program. “Public roads should not become test labs,” they said in a statement.
Despite backlash, Tesla investors remain optimistic. Shares rose 3.2% after the announcement, suggesting strong market belief in the robotaxi vision.
Industry analysts believe this scrutiny will only intensify. The Biden administration recently prioritized AI regulation, including autonomous vehicles, under a new executive order.
Tesla's new robotaxis are largely remote controlled. The company plans to increase safety with this move. Here are the details.
Elon Musk continues to promote the service on X (formerly Twitter), encouraging users to “summon the future.”
But for now, the future will drive under the watchful eyes of federal regulators.
