Just a day after launching its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, Tesla has already caught the eye of federal safety officials. The service, which allowed a select group of early users to experience autonomous rides, quickly drew scrutiny as reports of the robotaxis allegedly breaking several local traffic rules emerged.
Described by Elon Musk as a pivotal move for Tesla’s struggling electric vehicle business, the robotaxi service launched in its hometown of Austin on Sunday, with around 10 vehicles and a human safety driver aboard each one.
New reports indicate that Tesla is under investigation by federal traffic safety regulators following incidents of questionable driving behavior by its autonomous vehicles. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reached out to Tesla after multiple videos emerged online showing the robotaxis navigating real roads with passengers, with some clips reportedly capturing unsafe driving practices during the trial runs in Austin.
Tesla confined the robotaxi rides to a specific, pre-mapped zone within the city. In certain instances, the company also deployed chase vehicles to provide extra layers of support.
The robotaxis operate using an unsupervised version of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, though the company has yet to disclose detailed information about how the software works. Designed for autonomous travel, the vehicles can be summoned through a mobile app. Each ride still includes a human ‘safety monitor’ stationed in the front passenger seat to oversee the journey.
The footage shared online captured instances where the robotaxis exceeded speed limits and, in one instance, veered into the incorrect lane—raising concerns about the system’s real-world performance.
In a statement, an NHTSA spokesperson confirmed that the agency is aware of the reported incidents and is currently communicating with the manufacturer to obtain more details.
Tesla has long showcased its advancements in autonomous driving technology, though it has frequently drawn regulatory attention over accidents and user-reported issues. The company is forging ahead with its Robotaxi initiative, a self-driving ride-hailing service set to launch in 2025. Since unveiling the plan late last year, the automaker has begun testing in San Francisco and recently expanded to Austin, with more cities soon to follow, despite the next-gen vehicles still being in development.
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