Tesla’s self-driving Robotaxis just hit the streets of Austin, Texas, and they’re already getting heat from safety regulators.
Videos from the launch weekend showed the cars speeding and drifting into the wrong lanes, which quickly caught the attention of the U.S. government’s main road safety agency, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The agency confirmed it's now asking Tesla for more info.
Tesla had hyped up this limited rollout, sending about 10 Robotaxis into a small section of Austin with “safety drivers” in the passenger seat. Pro-Tesla influencers were invited to take rides and post content, but instead of glowing reviews, some of the footage showed the cars glitching or breaking basic traffic rules.
In one clip, a Tesla investor filmed his Robotaxi wobbling during a left turn, veering into a lane meant for oncoming traffic before correcting itself. Luckily, no other cars were around. Another influencer casually praised the car for going a few miles per hour over the speed limit — not exactly the kind of thing regulators love to see.
Despite this, Elon Musk called the launch a success and promised Robotaxis will make roads safer. He’s been pushing this vision for years, saying millions of driverless Teslas will eventually cruise around cities all over the world. Back in April, he even predicted that would start happening by late 2025, though he made a similar promise in 2019 that still hasn’t come true.
The NHTSA doesn’t sign off on new driving tech before it hits the road. Instead, automakers like Tesla certify that their vehicles are safe, and the NHTSA steps in if there are reports of problems. The agency is now digging into these Robotaxi incidents to decide what action to take.
This all comes at a time when Tesla’s facing some pressure, sales are down, profits fell 71% in early 2025, and there’s been backlash against Musk’s political views. Robotaxis are now a major part of the company’s future plans, especially as traditional car sales slow.
And this isn’t Tesla’s only issue with regulators. The NHTSA is also investigating the company’s “Full Self-Driving” mode after a 2023 crash in Arizona where a Tesla reportedly hit and killed a woman while the sun was setting, causing glare.
