Key facts
- A fatal Texas crash involving a Tesla has prompted investigations by the NHTSA and NTSB.
- Tesla's VP of AI software disputed initial reports of the crash, suggesting FSD (Supervised) was engaged.
- Waymo is on track to import over 3,000 Zeekr-designed robotaxis into the U.S. this year.
- Proposed U.S. regulations could allow automated vehicles to operate without brake pedals.
- Lucid Motors announced significant layoffs and production cuts.
- Lyft's new safety standards exclude camera-only autonomous systems, impacting Tesla's FSD (Unsupervised).
Tesla's automated driving systems, particularly Full Self-Driving (Supervised), are facing heightened scrutiny following a fatal crash in Texas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the incident, where a Tesla struck a home, killing a 76-year-old woman. Tesla's VP of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, offered a different account, suggesting the driver manually overrode the system by pressing the accelerator to 100%, implying FSD (Supervised) was in use rather than the discontinued Autopilot. This situation is compounded by Tesla settling a lawsuit connected to another fatal 2023 crash involving FSD (Supervised), which is part of a separate NHTSA inquiry into the system's ability to detect and respond to reduced visibility conditions.
Meanwhile, Waymo is significantly expanding its robotaxi operations. Research firm MoffettNathanson, analyzing shipping documents, found Waymo is on pace to import 3,156 Zeekr-designed electric vehicles for its Ojai robotaxi program this year, averaging about 300 vehicles per month. These vehicles, designed by Zeekr, a brand of China's Geely Holding Group, are manufactured in China and then equipped with Waymo's self-driving technology in the U.S.
In the broader autonomous vehicle and EV sector, several companies are making moves. Aseon Labs secured $10 million in seed funding for its robotaxi inspection and charging pods. CaoCao and May Mobility are partnering to explore international robotaxi services. Elroy Air, an autonomous heavy-cargo drone startup, plans to go public via a $1 billion merger. Partly raised $50 million for its AI tools in automotive repair, and Spiro received $55 million for its African EV infrastructure platform. Terawatt Infrastructure secured a $300 million credit facility for EV charging depots.
Regulatory and industry shifts are also apparent. Proposed U.S. Department of Transportation changes could allow automated vehicles to operate without brake pedals. Lucid Motors, however, is implementing significant cutbacks, laying off 18% of its workforce and reducing EV production. Lyft has established a new safety standard requiring autonomous vehicles on its network to use multiple sensor types, effectively excluding camera-only systems like Tesla's FSD (Unsupervised). OpenAI has hired Uber India president Prabhjeet Singh as its first managing director. Polestar faces U.S. market restrictions due to Chinese connected car technology regulations. Samsara is introducing tracking labels to combat cargo theft, and Slate Auto launched an affordable electric truck. Uber is also facing a shareholder lawsuit concerning safety and compliance. Waymo has registered an entity in Germany, indicating future service expansion, and has opened its Nashville service to the public, while Zoox is preparing its custom-built robotaxis for commercial deployment.