On August 22, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced an investigation into Tesla, alleging the company failed to promptly report accidents involving its Autopilot system. According to CNBC, NHTSA found that Tesla submitted several accident reports months after they actually occurred, violating the automaker's requirement to report an accident within five days of becoming aware of it.
Tesla explained the delays as a result of a problem with its data collection system, which it has since fixed. NHTSA will conduct an "audit inquiry" to verify Tesla's compliance, focusing on assessing the cause and scope of the delays and examining any accidents or data omissions. Notably, according to TeslaDeaths.com, at least 59 fatalities have been linked to Tesla's Autopilot or FSD systems.
This investigation comes at a critical time for Tesla's Robotaxi business. While the company launched a staffed Robotaxi service in Austin and the California Bay Area in June, the service has yet to achieve true driverless functionality. Wall Street analysts are optimistic about the prospects of the Robotaxi market, with Goldman Sachs predicting the US market could reach $7 billion by 2030. However, there remains disagreement on Tesla's pace of development in this area.
This investigation not only raises regulatory compliance issues for Tesla but also potentially impacts consumer trust in its autonomous driving technology. Amidst pressure on overall sales, balancing technological innovation with safety compliance will be a crucial challenge for Tesla's future development.