Tesla’s long-awaited Robotaxi rollout may have given the company a first-mover advantage in autonomous transportation, but it also put a bullseye on its back.
As seen in Millionaire MNL, U.S. regulators are circling Elon Musk’s electric car empire after the initial deployment of Tesla Robotaxi vehicles displayed erratic behavior on public roads, raising concerns about public safety and legal compliance.
Unexpected Behavior on Day One
The excitement around the Robotaxi debut was palpable, with Tesla fans lining up to experience what Musk had promised would be a “new era” in personal transport. But within hours, videos surfaced on social media showing vehicles making sudden U-turns, failing to yield at pedestrian crossings, and in at least two cases, driving in the wrong lane.
One viral clip posted on X (formerly Twitter) showed a Robotaxi hesitating at a green light, then suddenly veering left across oncoming traffic. Another video captured the vehicle slowing down mid-intersection as confused pedestrians attempted to cross.
Safety Watchdogs React
Federal regulators didn’t wait long to respond. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed it is gathering data on the rollout and may open a formal investigation into whether Tesla’s new autonomous fleet violates traffic safety laws.
A spokesperson from the Department of Transportation said, “Any vehicle operating on U.S. roads must comply with federal safety standards, regardless of its level of autonomy. We are reviewing Tesla’s Robotaxi performance data and public reports.”
Is FSD Ready for the Streets?
Tesla claims the Robotaxi fleet runs on an advanced version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, technology that has yet to receive full regulatory approval. While FSD is technically still in beta, Musk insisted at the launch that it had reached a level of reliability sufficient for public use.
Critics disagree.
“This is Silicon Valley arrogance in action,” said one transportation analyst, speaking anonymously to Millionaire MNL. “Tesla essentially soft-launched a nationwide autonomous taxi fleet without third-party validation.”
Legal Gray Areas, Public Red Flags
Legal experts argue Tesla may be exploiting a regulatory gray area. Autonomous vehicle regulations are fragmented across states, with no cohesive federal standard in place yet. Tesla is reportedly taking advantage of this patchwork to operate in less regulated jurisdictions while avoiding states like California, where AV rules are more stringent.
Still, public backlash is mounting.
“If that car hit a child because it failed to stop, who’s responsible? The passenger? The programmer? Elon Musk?” asked a concerned parent whose neighborhood saw one of the Robotaxi test units.
Tesla’s Response
In a press release, Tesla stated that the incidents were “rare edge cases” and that the system had “performed better than expected” during real-world deployment. The company said it is “cooperating with authorities” and continuously pushing over-the-air updates to improve behavior.
But critics argue that using the public as beta testers for a self-driving product is reckless.
A Cautionary Launch
For now, Tesla’s Robotaxi remains operational in limited areas, with some cities reportedly pausing rollout until safety assessments are completed.
Whether this ends in a minor bump or a full regulatory showdown remains to be seen. But the early glitches in Tesla’s grand Robotaxi vision suggest that while the technology might be close, public trust is still a long road ahead.
