The NHTSA Investigates Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Software After Reported Crashes
The top U.S. automotive safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has launched a new investigation into Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” software following four reported crashes in low-visibility conditions, one of which resulted in a pedestrian fatality.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) announced on Friday that it is looking into whether the driver assistance system can effectively detect and respond to reduced roadway visibility conditions such as sun glare, fog, or airborne dust. The agency is also seeking to determine if there have been additional crashes in these conditions beyond the reported incidents.
This investigation comes shortly after Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the prototype of the company’s “CyberCab,” a two-seater car designed to function as a robotaxi. Musk claimed that Tesla’s Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV would eventually be able to operate without supervision in California and Texas by 2025, although specific details were not provided.
In April, the NHTSA concluded a nearly three-year investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot system, a less advanced driver assistance software, after reviewing nearly 500 crashes involving the system, 13 of which were fatal. Concurrently with closing that probe, the NHTSA initiated a new investigation into the recall remedy that Tesla had implemented to address Autopilot issues.
Aside from regulatory scrutiny, Tesla’s software is facing legal challenges. The Department of Justice is currently looking into Tesla’s claims regarding its driver-assistance features, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles has accused Tesla of overstating the capabilities of its software.
