The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the closure of its investigation into Tesla’s “Smart Summon” self-driving feature. This feature allows vehicles to navigate parking lots or move short distances while being monitored by owners via a smartphone app.
Investigation Details
The investigation, which could have affected over 2.59 million Tesla vehicles, was closed due to minor incidents involving property damage, with no reported injuries or loss of life. These incidents occurred early in the sessions, largely due to poor visibility. The NHTSA acknowledged that while the closing of the investigation does not necessarily mean that safety defects do not exist, software updates released by Tesla did not warrant further investigation.
Criticism of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) System
Tesla’s FSD system has faced criticism from various stakeholders. Investor Ross Gerber of Gerber Kawasaki has expressed concerns that the FSD system is only at Level 2 capabilities, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This criticism is shared by Pat Tsen, the Deputy Executive Director for Consumer Policy, Transportation, and Enforcement at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), who maintains that Tesla’s ride-hailing service in the state is not classified as a Robotaxi service due to the FSD system’s Level 2 rating.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The NHTSA has moved its investigation into Tesla’s FSD technology to Engineering Analysis, a stage that usually precedes a recall. This move has prompted criticism from Gordon Johnson, who warns that Tesla’s potential recall could derail its Robotaxi plans. Johnson argues that a company cannot build a $1.2 trillion robotaxi company on software that the federal government is one determination away from forcing off the road.
Market Impact
The news has had a significant impact on Tesla’s stock price, with the company’s shares falling 4.04% to $365.85 during pre-market trading on Monday. Despite this, Tesla remains a key player in the autonomous vehicle market, with its FSD technology continuing to evolve and improve.
Conclusion
The closure of the NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot feature is a significant development for the company and the autonomous vehicle industry as a whole. While the investigation’s closure does not necessarily mean that safety defects do not exist, it does suggest that Tesla’s software updates have addressed the concerns raised by the NHTSA. As the company continues to develop and refine its FSD technology, it will be important to monitor regulatory developments and market trends to understand the full implications of this news.