U.S. Regulators Investigate Tesla After Robotaxi Footage Sparks Safety Concerns

U.S. federal safety officials have reached out to Tesla following the circulation of videos on social media that appear to show its newly launched robotaxis behaving erratically on public roads.

The vehicles, introduced in Austin, Texas, over the weekend, are part of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to revolutionize transportation through fully autonomous ride-hailing services. Despite the fanfare surrounding their development, the rollout was relatively quiet, involving just a handful of vehicles and a select group of analysts, influencers, and shareholders.

However, footage from the pilot launch quickly raised alarms. Clips posted online seem to show the robotaxis making abrupt stops, drifting into incorrect lanes, and even speeding – despite having human safety operators in the passenger seat.

In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed on Monday that it is aware of the reported incidents and is “in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.”

Tesla has yet to comment publicly on the concerns.

The robotaxi fleet currently consists of 12 vehicles and operates under strict conditions. Tesla says the cars won’t be active in adverse weather, avoid complex intersections, and are not allowed to transport anyone under 18.

While Musk praised the launch as the “culmination of a decade of hard work” in a post on X (formerly Twitter), the initial performance has cast doubts on Tesla’s readiness to challenge competitors like Waymo (a subsidiary of Alphabet) and Amazon’s Zoox, both of which already operate fully driverless services in multiple U.S. cities.

Unlike its rivals, Tesla uses a vision-based system that relies on cameras, rather than lidar or radar, to detect surroundings – a decision that has sparked debate over the safety and reliability of such technology.

Regulators continue to assess whether autonomous vehicles, including Tesla’s, meet federal safety standards. The NHTSA emphasized that it does not pre-approve new technologies; manufacturers are responsible for certifying compliance, with the agency stepping in to investigate potential defects or safety risks.

As the self-driving race accelerates, scrutiny around real-world performance and passenger safety is likely to intensify.