Tesla's recent debut of its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, has quickly drawn the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This federal scrutiny comes after videos posted on social media depicted chaotic driving behavior by the autonomous vehicles. The service, which allows autonomous trips for a limited number of invited riders, faced immediate questions following incidents like a Tesla robotaxi traveling the wrong way down a road, and another braking abruptly in traffic, reportedly in response to stationary police vehicles outside its path. These videos were widely shared online, prompting the regulatory body to act swiftly.

A spokesperson for NHTSA confirmed the agency's awareness of these referenced incidents and stated it is actively in contact with Tesla to gather additional information. While NHTSA does not pre-approve new automotive technologies or vehicle systems, it requires automakers to certify that each vehicle model they produce meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The agency's role involves investigating incidents involving potential safety defects and taking necessary actions to protect road safety, following a comprehensive assessment of various reports and information. This recent contact with Tesla occurs amidst an ongoing NHTSA investigation into possible safety defects associated with Tesla's FSD-Supervised (Full Self-Driving) technology, also known as FSD Beta systems, which was initiated after several injurious and fatal accidents.

The pilot robotaxi service in Austin exclusively utilizes Model Y SUVs equipped with Tesla's latest FSD Unsupervised software and hardware. This limited deployment involves fewer than two dozen vehicles and operates only during daylight hours and under good weather conditions. A critical safety measure in this program is the mandatory presence of a human safety supervisor in the front passenger seat of each vehicle. Access to this