Tags: NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into more than 2.8 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The probe focuses on traffic safety incidents, including red‑light violations, wrong‑way travel, and railroad‑crossing failures, encompassing 58 reported events, 14 crashes and 23 injuries. The inquiry arrives as Tesla seeks regulatory approval for its robotaxi service. Ler mais

Amazon-owned Zoox announced plans to map the streets of Washington, D.C. using manually driven Toyota Highlanders equipped with its sensor suite and software. The mapping effort will precede a rollout of autonomous vehicle testing later in the year, with human safety operators behind the wheel. The capital will become Zoox's eighth test site as the company expands its fleet of custom‑built robotaxis and moves toward a commercial service, pending additional regulatory clearances from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ler mais

Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous‑vehicle developer, has filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a “555 exemption” that would let it operate its custom‑built robotaxis commercially. The request, which seeks temporary relief from eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, follows a recent free robotaxi rollout in Las Vegas and an earlier exemption in August that allowed only research and demonstration use. Ler mais

Tesla’s effort to roll out a robotaxi service in California has sparked confusion among state regulators. Although the company touts a driver‑less future, the vehicles currently operating have safety drivers and lack the required permits for fully autonomous testing or commercial use. Emails between Tesla and officials reveal a back‑and‑forth over clarifying the service’s true nature, with the automaker avoiding direct answers. Regulatory agencies, including the California DMV and the NHTSA, note that Tesla has not applied for the necessary authorizations, intensifying scrutiny of the company’s autonomous‑vehicle roadmap. Ler mais

Tesla is considering a redesign of its electric door handles after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the handles' safety. Design chief Franz von Holzhausen told Bloomberg that the company is exploring a combined electronic‑manual release button. The move follows earlier NHTSA scrutiny of Tesla’s crash‑reporting for its Autopilot and Full Self‑Driving systems. While Tesla has not detailed the redesign timeline, the discussion signals a response to regulatory concerns about potential passenger entrapment in emergencies. Ler mais

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into Tesla’s electronic door handles after multiple reports of occupants, especially children, becoming trapped inside vehicles. The probe focuses on an estimated 174,290 Model Y SUVs and examines whether low‑voltage battery problems are preventing the door locks from operating from outside the vehicle. While Tesla provides manual release mechanisms, the agency notes that they may be difficult for some users to operate. The investigation was prompted by nine incidents involving children unable to exit the vehicle, raising safety concerns about entrapment in hot conditions. Ler mais