US regulators are turning after Tesla’s Robotaxi launch includes unexpected behavior

Released, it was mostly Limited to invited Tesla investors, analysts and influencersin general, it’s my first time looking at Tesla’s Robotaxi technology. This is the “unsupervised” version of fully automated driving (supervising) technology already available.

Tesla first revealed its cybercab and massive Roboban at a flashy event at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California last October. However, Sunday’s launch in Austin was the biggest development in almost a year (and undoubtedly). 10 years) Tesla CEO Elon Musk reportedly promotes Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions Despite the internal warning They argue that Cybercab never benefits.

The event won rave reviews by some Tesla analysts, including Wedbush’s Dan Ives.

“When we got into it, we were impressed, but walking away from it just says that this is the future,” he wrote in the note.

Still, video shot by attendees on Sunday showed Tesla vehicles driving irregularly, and in some cases violating traffic laws and safe traffic practices, despite the presence of a “safety monitor” in the front seats.

1 video The vehicle he travels, photographed by Tesla investor Rob Maurer, is hesitant at an intersection and enters the lane for cars moving in the opposite direction. The car then appears to break the traffic law by crossing the double yellow line before entering the left turn lane. You can hear a cry in the video.

In another video Posted In YouTube Author: Ed Niedermeyer Ludicrous: The Unpleasant Story of Tesla MotorsOne of the Robotaxis “brakes hard” after passing through a stopped police vehicle that was not in the route.

“The fact that we nearly stopped twice on public roads is not entirely safe,” Niedermeyer wrote in the video.

These incidents, along with other incidents posted on social media, have led the NHTSA to reach out to Tesla on Monday, federal agencies confirmed.

“NHTSA is aware of the incident being referenced, and will contact manufacturers and collect additional information. NHTSA will continue to enforce laws regarding all manufacturers of automobiles and equipment in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and a data-driven, risk-based investigation process.” luck.

The agency revealed that rather than “pre-employing new technology or vehicle systems,” it proves that the vehicle meets safety standards and follows up on incidents that may have a safety defect.

“Following the evaluation of these reports and other relevant information, the NHTSA will take necessary steps to protect road safety,” the agency wrote.

NHTSA has another existing investigation open In crashes including Tesla vehicles using fully automated (supervised) technology.

Tesla didn’t respond immediately luckRequest a comment. Tesla has not publicly responded to Sunday’s incident, but before the launch, Tesla responded to NHTSA questions about its robotaxi program. It has been reported Electric Transport and Sustainable Energy Outlet Electrek. The company reportedly asked NHTSA to keep its response secret, according to the outlet.

NHTSA’s latest outreach to Tesla does not mean that it has begun an investigation, Florida-based product liability attorney Jason Turchin said he had previously worked on vehicle cases. Still, the company needs to be on the lookout for the incident. If the issue escalates further, Tarkin said the NHTSA has broad authority to enforce recalls and fines the company.

“We’re looking at you. We know this possibility, so we’re in the stages right now. luck.

Tarkin said they hope that the NHTSA and the federal government will take advantage of the recent Tesla incident and the general rise in self-driving cars to develop regulations that deal with production and use.

Still, former vehicle production engineer Craig Melrose Toyota And now, consulting agency HTEC’s global management partner in advanced technology and mobility, said NHTSA outreach to Tesla could be a positive development.

“Their involvement can be a positive signal, especially if this is simply an aggressive review, as regulatory bodies like the NHTSA exist to ensure standardization and adoption of best practices across the industry,” Melrose said. luck.