Tesla Deploys Robotaxis Amid Regulatory Scrutiny and Safety Concerns
Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features currently require driver supervision. FSD offers capabilities such as summon and self-parking and is available in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
In December 2025, Tesla began deploying robotaxis on Texas roads without a human driver. This development was met with mixed reactions; Tesla CEO Elon Musk has indicated that texting and driving could be allowed with Tesla software, though Tesla has not commented officially. Safety advocates warn this could encourage illegal texting and unsafe driving practices.
U.S. regulators have opened investigations into the reliability of Tesla's software. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is examining issues including driver monitoring and misuse. Meanwhile, California has ordered Tesla to rename Autopilot or face a sales ban. Concerns have been raised about Tesla's safety claims as its safety data are not independently verifiable or shared for external review.
Tesla is entering a competitive field where Waymo currently leads the robotaxi space, despite facing issues such as a software recall for illegally passing school buses. There are eight California-approved unmanned car testers; Tesla is not among them. Ford is also under investigation for its hands-free system.
In Europe, new regulations mandate warnings to inattentive drivers. Elon Musk has indicated ambitions to obtain FSD approval in Europe as soon as February. Analysts warn that Tesla's aggressive push to market early carries high risk and could harm the company's reputation if incidents increase. Despite this, some observers continue to view Waymo as ahead in the autonomous vehicle race.
Following the announcement of Tesla's robotaxi deployment, Tesla's stock rose to a record high, reflecting investor optimism and reliance on the potential of self-driving technology.
