Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
mood
Image Credits:Sjoerd van der Wal / Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
startup
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
The top U.S. automotive safe regulator has opened a new investigating into Tesla ’s so - called “ Full Self - Driving ( Supervised ) ” software program after four cover crashes in low - visibleness situations — include one where a pedestrian was vote down .
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ’s ( NHTSA ) Office of Defects InvestigationannouncedFriday that it is probing the driver aid system to find out whether it can “ find and respond appropriately to boil down roadway visibility conditions , ” such as “ sun glare , murkiness , or airborne junk . ” The representation also wants to have sex if other crash have occurred in these conditions beyond the ones that were reported .
The probe comes just one workweek after Tesla CEO Elon Musk reveal the epitome of his company ’s “ Cybercab , ” a two - seater car that he said is supposed to serve as a robotaxi , following years of unmet promises . Musk also claim at the event that Tesla ’s Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV would be able to operate without supervision in California and Texas at some point in 2025 , though hedid not extend any details about how that will happen .
In April , NHTSA closeda nearly three - class probeinto Autopilot , the less - capable number one wood assistance software that Tesla offer , after investigating almost 500 crash where the system was active . The agency constitute 13 of those clangour were fatal . At the same time that it fold that probe , NHTSA opened a new investigation into the recall reparation that Tesla had emerge to address problems with Autopilot .
Tesla ’s software system also faces other legal threats . The Department of Justice isinvestigatingthe claims Tesla has made about its driver - help features , and the California Department of Motor Vehicles hasaccusedTesla of inflating the software ’s potentiality .
The company also faces a bit of lawsuits over Autopilot crash . It fall one of the most high-pitched - visibility cases that was set to go to trialearlier this class . The company has said in the past that it makes drivers aware they are supposed to constantly monitor Full ego - Driving and Autopilot and be ready to take over at any moment .
The new investigation announce Friday specifically shout out out four clash where the Full Self - Driving ( Supervised ) system was active , all occurring between November 2023 and May 2024 .
The November 2023 clash occur in Rimrock , Arizona . It involved a Model Y that struck and killed a pedestrian . Another crash happened in January 2024 in Nipton , California , where a Model 3 crash into another motorcar on the highway during a rubble tempest . In March 2024 a Model 3 crashed into another car on the highway in Red Mills , Virginia during turbid conditions . And in May 2024 , a Model 3 crash into a stationary object on a rural road in Collinsville , Ohio in foggy conditions . NHTSA note that someone was injured in the May 2024 clangour .
NHTSA ’s defects investigations team separate its probes into four level : Defect Petition , Preliminary Evaluation , Recall Query and Engineering Analysis . The agency classified this new investigation as a preliminary rating . NHTSA normally attempt to complete these types of probes within eight month .
This story has been updated with more details from NHTSA ’s filings .
