Federal safety officials reached out to Tesla after videos showed robotaxis breaking traffic rules in Austin. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it knows about these problems and wants more details from the company. Officials will keep checking all car makers to make sure they follow safety laws. The agency does not approve new car technology before companies use it. Car makers must promise their vehicles meet safety rules.
Social media videos showed a robotaxi driving on the wrong side of a street after missing a left turn. Another robotaxi drove past where it should have stopped. Some robotaxis made sudden stops around other cars. Others reacted strangely when police cars were nearby.
Tesla boss Elon Musk started the robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday using Model Y vehicles. The cars use Tesla's self-driving computer system without human drivers. Fewer than 24 cars worked during daylight hours with safety workers sitting inside. Tesla stock prices went up 8 percent on Monday but the launch did not meet Musk's earlier promises.
Musk has made many claims about self-driving cars that did not happen. He said Tesla cars would drive themselves completely within three years back in 2015. He promised cross-country trips without human drivers before 2017 ended. Musk also said Tesla would have one million robotaxis ready to work 100 hours each week starting in 2020.
Waymo runs a competing robotaxi service that has completed 10 million paid rides. The Google company had to recall some cars last year after one hit a utility pole in Phoenix.
Social media videos showed a robotaxi driving on the wrong side of a street after missing a left turn. Another robotaxi drove past where it should have stopped. Some robotaxis made sudden stops around other cars. Others reacted strangely when police cars were nearby.
Tesla boss Elon Musk started the robotaxi service in Austin on Sunday using Model Y vehicles. The cars use Tesla's self-driving computer system without human drivers. Fewer than 24 cars worked during daylight hours with safety workers sitting inside. Tesla stock prices went up 8 percent on Monday but the launch did not meet Musk's earlier promises.
Musk has made many claims about self-driving cars that did not happen. He said Tesla cars would drive themselves completely within three years back in 2015. He promised cross-country trips without human drivers before 2017 ended. Musk also said Tesla would have one million robotaxis ready to work 100 hours each week starting in 2020.
Waymo runs a competing robotaxi service that has completed 10 million paid rides. The Google company had to recall some cars last year after one hit a utility pole in Phoenix.
