Tesla Robotaxi Plans Under Federal Investigation

Federal Investigation into Tesla's Robotaxi Service

Federal safety investigators have forwarded a comprehensive set of inquiries to Tesla regarding its forthcoming robotaxi service. This action is part of an ongoing investigation focused on the operational characteristics of the company’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software, particularly in conditions with limited visibility.

NHTSA's Information Request

The Office of Defects Investigation within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking further details concerning Full Self-Driving (Supervised) – commonly known as “FSD”. The purpose is to gain a clearer understanding of Tesla’s planned evaluation processes for its vehicles and driving automation technologies when deployed on public roadways.

This request for information is outlined in a letter made public on Monday, initially reported by Reuters.

Robotaxi Launch Plans and Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla has publicly announced intentions to initiate a paid ride-hailing robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, utilizing its own vehicle fleet, scheduled for this June. However, a recent Tesla post on X appears to have drawn the attention of federal regulators.

The cited post detailed: “FSD Supervised ride-hailing service is live for an early set of employees in Austin & San Francisco Bay Area. We’ve completed over 1.5k trips & 15k miles of driving. This service helps us develop & validate FSD networks, the mobile app, vehicle allocation, mission control & remote assistance operations.”

Investigation Background

NHTSA initiated its investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software in October. This followed reports of four crashes occurring in scenarios with low visibility.

It’s important to note that Tesla’s FSD software is classified as an advanced driver-assistance system. Drivers are still required to maintain their hands on the steering wheel, even while the system manages certain driving functions like braking and steering under specific conditions.

Unsupervised Full Self-Driving

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that the robotaxis will leverage the “unsupervised” iteration of its Full Self-Driving software, which is currently unreleased.

Specific Questions Posed by NHTSA

The agency’s May letter contains a series of targeted questions. These are designed to ascertain whether the automated driving system intended for the robotaxis is identical to, or closely resembles, the FSD Supervised version.

NHTSA requested specific information regarding:

• The size of the robotaxi fleet.
• The vehicle models that will be utilized.
• Tesla’s methodology for determining the safety of the robotaxi system.
• Any connection between the automated driving system and the existing FSD Supervised product.

Safety Concerns in Adverse Conditions

Investigators also inquired about how Tesla “intends to ensure the safety of its robotaxi operations in reduced roadway visibility conditions, such as sun glare, fog, airborne dust, rain, or snow.”