Federal Inquiry Launched into Tesla's New Driverless Taxis Following Austin Launch

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Tesla's newly launched driverless taxis, known as Cybercabs, just a day after their debut in Austin, Texas. The probe will assess whether these innovative vehicles adhere to safety regulations, given their absence of essential controls like steering wheels and brakes.

Elon Musk unveiled the Cybercab service on Thursday, celebrating its launch with a significant event that introduced dozens of these futuristic vehicles to the streets of Austin. However, this ambitious rollout was met with immediate scrutiny, as the NHTSA expressed concerns about compliance with federal standards.

Tesla's stock price reacted negatively to the news, falling over 5% to $357.38 in early trading on Friday. Prior to the launch, the company had stated it relied on a self-certification process to ensure compliance for the Cybercabs, but the NHTSA is now conducting an audit to verify the technical data and processes Tesla employed.

This launch is part of Musk's broader vision for a national expansion of an affordable, driverless taxi service that he claims will revolutionize transportation. While the Cybercabs are designed without manual controls for passengers, the existing Tesla cab service, which has been operational in Austin for over a year, is set to incorporate these autonomous vehicles. Tesla's robotaxi network is also expanding to other cities in Texas and Florida.

Furthermore, Tesla is under the microscope for various federal investigations related to its self-driving software. One inquiry focuses on the software's involvement in multiple accidents under poor visibility conditions, including a fatal incident involving a pedestrian. Other investigations are examining reports of Teslas running red lights and failing to report crashes in a timely manner.

Source: www.independent.co.uk