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U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating reports that Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) self-driving robotaxis may have violated traffic laws on their first day of offering paid rides in Austin.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is “aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information.”
Videos shared online show Tesla robotaxis exceeding the speed limit and, in one instance, swerving into the wrong lane.
The agency noted that it does not “pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems — rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA’s rigorous safety standards, and the agency investigates incidents involving potential safety defects. Following an assessment of those reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety.”
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) on Sunday began offering paid rides to select customers in South Austin. While limited in scale, the launch marks the first real-world test of the company’s autonomous vehicle technology.
The robotaxi service will use Tesla (TSLA) Model Y vehicles equipped with an advanced version of the company’s Full Self-Driving software. The vehicles feature a camera-based sensor suite empowered by AI, which is different from many competitors that use additional sensors like Lidar and radar.
Shares were up 1.49% premarket after closing 8% high on Monday.