The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles due to concerns surrounding the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, following reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including a fatal incident involving a pedestrian.
On October 18, 2024, the NHTSA announced that the investigation was prompted by Tesla’s disclosure of four accidents where FSD was engaged during challenging visibility scenarios such as sun glare, fog, and airborne dust. One of these incidents resulted in the death of a pedestrian in Rimrock, Arizona, in November 2023, when a 2021 Tesla Model Y struck the individual.
Tesla has faced scrutiny regarding its FSD system before; it has been recalled twice under pressure from NHTSA due to safety concerns. The recalls were initiated after issues were found where the system failed to obey traffic laws, such as running stop signs at low speeds.
During a recent event on October 11, Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased a fully autonomous robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, Musk mentioned plans for fully autonomous vehicles to be operational without human drivers by next year and for robotaxis to be available by 2026 in California and Texas.
The NHTSA’s investigation raises questions about the future of Tesla’s self-driving ambitions, particularly given that federal regulations regarding autonomous vehicles are still evolving. The agency will also examine whether any software updates affected FSD performance in low visibility conditions.
For further details and updates on this developing story, you can view the original report from Reuters.
Sources:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-fsd-self-driving-autopilot-elon-musk/
[2] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-opens-new-investigation-into-teslas-full-self-driving-system-after-fatal-crash
[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/18/tesla-faces-nhtsa-investigation-of-full-self-driving-after-fatal-collision.html
[4] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nhtsa-opens-probe-2-4-094126947.html
[5] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/nhtsa-opens-probe-into-24-mln-tesla-vehicles-over-full-self-driving-collisions-2024-10-18/
[6] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/10/18/tesla-full-self-driving-nhtsa-fsd/
[7] https://abcnews.go.com/Business/tesla-driving-crash-reports-prompt-nhtsa-investigation/story?id=114922283
[8] https://www.axios.com/2024/10/18/nhtsa-investigation-tesla-full-self-driving
[9] https://nypost.com/2024/10/18/business/nhtsa-to-investigate-elon-musks-tesla-after-several-full-self-driving-crashes/