Tesla reveals two Robotaxi crashes involving teleoperators
Original: Tesla reveals two Robotaxi crashes involving teleoperators
Why This Matters
Reveals operational challenges in Tesla's autonomous vehicle deployment
Tesla disclosed two Robotaxi crashes in Austin, Texas involving remote teleoperators who were controlling the vehicles at low speeds. Both incidents occurred with safety monitors onboard but no passengers, according to newly unredacted NHTSA filings.
Tesla submitted newly unredacted crash data to NHTSA revealing 17 total crashes since its Robotaxi network launched in Austin last year. Two crashes involved remote teleoperators controlling vehicles under 10 mph when Tesla's automated driving system encountered difficulties. In July 2025, a teleoperator drove a Robotaxi up a curb into a metal fence after the ADS had trouble moving forward. In January 2026, another teleoperator-controlled vehicle hit a construction barricade at 9 mph while navigating around an obstacle. Tesla allows remote operation under 10 mph to move vehicles from compromising positions without waiting for field representatives. Most other crashes involved Tesla vehicles being hit by other drivers, though some included mirror clipping incidents and one case where a Robotaxi hit a dog that ran into the street.