The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla’s self-driving software systems, covering 2.4 million vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2024. This move marks the first step towards a potential recall by the agency, raising concerns about the safety of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology.
The probe comes after four crash reports involving Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software, with incidents occurring in conditions of reduced visibility such as fog or sun glares. One of the crashes resulted in a pedestrian fatality, prompting NHTSA to evaluate whether Tesla’s self-driving systems can effectively respond to such challenging conditions.
Despite Tesla’s labeling of its technology as “full self-driving,” NHTSA clarified that it is actually a “partial driving automation system.” This distinction is crucial as the agency seeks to determine the capabilities and limitations of Tesla’s autonomous features.
The investigation also comes on the heels of Elon Musk’s unveiling of the Cybercab, a fully autonomous robotaxi concept, which garnered mixed reactions from analysts and investors. While Musk projected a market release by 2027, concerns about the safety and reliability of Tesla’s self-driving technology persist.
Unlike competitors like Waymo, which rely on high-tech sensors like Lidar and radar for their autonomous systems, Tesla’s approach emphasizes cameras and artificial intelligence. This cost-effective strategy has its advantages but raises questions about the effectiveness of Tesla’s self-driving capabilities in real-world scenarios.
As NHTSA delves into the evaluation of Tesla’s self-driving software, the outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the future of autonomous vehicles and the regulatory oversight of emerging technologies in the automotive industry.
