Tesla Asks The NHTSA To Hide Its Response To The Robotaxi Questions

Tesla has recently requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) withhold its response to the regulator’s queries about its newly launched Robotaxi service. The electric vehicle giant faced intense scrutiny after launching the service, as NHTSA had sent a series of detailed questions about the program. Tesla was required to answer these questions by June 19, yet, in its response, the automaker has requested that the details remain confidential.

The primary concern for NHTSA lies in the use of Tesla’s “Supervised Full Self-Driving” (FSD) technology within the Robotaxi service, especially as the system is currently under investigation due to its involvement in several crashes. Tesla’s evasive approach to sharing information about its Autopilot and FSD systems has raised alarms. The automaker has consistently withheld crucial data, particularly regarding crash incidents, despite regulations requiring companies to report all accidents related to autonomous systems. Tesla has blocked attempts to obtain this information through the courts, claiming that releasing the data could result in “financial harm”.

Moreover, the Robotaxi service’s launch has not been without problems. Videos from the first day of operations show Tesla’s self-driving system making significant mistakes, such as driving in the wrong lane and dropping passengers in unsafe locations. NHTSA has confirmed awareness of these incidents and is investigating the situation. The agency also highlighted that its investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system remains ongoing.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has often emphasised the importance of transparency, yet the company’s track record for sharing data about its autonomous systems stands in stark contrast to these claims. Tesla has been notably secretive, releasing minimal information about its FSD system, only providing cumulative mileage data without offering insights into the system’s actual performance. This approach raises concerns, particularly as the company moves forward with ambitious plans for autonomous driving.