New York: Just four days after its launch, Tesla’s robotaxi has reportedly run into trouble due to various driving mistakes, despite supporters posting largely positive reviews. Speeding, sudden braking for no reason, dropping passengers off in the middle of the road, driving over a pavement or on the wrong side of the street, and going straight through an intersection from a turning lane are among the range of problems faced by users so far.

Tesla launched a limited number of its much-awaited self-driving model Y SUVs in Austin, Texas, on June 22, with safety protocols such as geofencing and safety drivers in place. Four days in, according to reports, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made contact with Tesla to obtain more information after videos posted on social media by early access drivers, mostly shareholders and influencers, showed several errors which raised safety concerns.

Problems with Tesla’s Full Self-Diving Software (FSD)

Driverless cars are now popular in several cities in the U.S. and in countries like U.A.E, Singapore, and China. Rival company Waymo, owned by Alphabet, recently completed its 10 millionth paid ride. Tesla uses an in-car camera system as opposed to the radar and sensors employed by competitors, in an attempt to make the robotaxi cheaper and more attractive. Its FSD requires a human driver’s full attention and presence at all times.

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Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin has already logged one incident of "Safety Concern" | Photo: X/Motorhead

‘Phantom braking’ has previously been a problem with Tesla’s camera-only perception system, which mistook road markings and shadows, among others, as a sign to engage the emergency brakes. Users complained that the ride-booking app, reportedly similar in interface to Uber, does not allow changing the pickup location or pinning the drop-off point. One user also reported that he was denied rides in times of “high service demand”. Users have compiled a Reddit thread listing a series of clips illustrating traffic incidents involving robotaxis.

Roadblocks in Tesla’s EV plans

Tesla CEO Elon Musk initially promised the launch for 2020. He had announced a rollout into other states by the end of the year, predicting "millions of Teslas" operating "fully autonomously" by the second half of 2026. However, a new Texas legislation coming into effect starting September 1, combined with these safety concerns, could create roadblocks for Tesla’s plans. The new state law requires autonomous vehicles to have a state permit and adhere to strict operational standards.

AP had previously reported that Tesla’s sales had dipped for the fifth month in a row in May despite rising demand for Electric Vehicles (EV) and Musk’s confidence in a “major rebound” which was to happen last month. The company stated that it is in the process of gathering user feedback to create a more seamless experience for the robotaxi users.

(with inputs from agencies)