Tesla Robotaxi Fleet Involved in Three Crashes in Austin Pilot
Tesla's robotaxi pilot service in Austin experienced three crashes involving modified Model Y vehicles during early operations. The incidents resulted in one minor injury and were reported to NHTSA, though most crash details in regulatory filings are redacted.
What happened
Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin experienced three separate crashes during its pilot phase when the fleet consisted of ten to 20 modified Model Y vehicles. The crashes occurred in the early days of the service and were reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as required for accidents involving advanced driver assistance software.
Most details of the crashes in NHTSA reports are redacted. According to reports, one minor injury was recorded and none of the three crashes are under investigation.
Reported impact
The crashes represent a significant proportion of the small pilot fleet, raising concerns about safety given that vehicles were initially tested only with safety drivers in the passenger seat and rides were limited to handpicked Tesla shareholders and friendly influencers.
Index analysis
Prior to the crashes, Tesla's robotaxi vehicles were reported acting erratically, running stop signs, and veering into oncoming traffic. The company's Full Self-Driving and Autopilot software has previously been linked by regulators to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths.
Governance controls
Tesla reported the three crashes to NHTSA as required under federal reporting requirements for advanced driver assistance systems. The company later expanded its robotaxi fleet by 50 percent and opened the service to the general public in Austin with a safety driver in the driver's seat.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
This record was researched and written by the Index from original reporting. Its sources are still being verified by an editor, and they are listed here once that check is complete. Until then the record carries no reviewer.