Tesla has confirmed two low-speed Robotaxi crashes in Austin, Texas, involving teleoperators since July 2025, according to information submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Details of the Austin Incidents
Both incidents occurred with no passengers onboard, and each vehicle had a safety monitor behind the wheel. The crashes were part of Tesla's early autonomous ride-hailing operations in Austin.
The first incident in July 2025 involved the automated driving system (ADS) struggling to move forward while stopped. The safety monitor sought help from Tesla’s remote assistance team, and a teleoperator took control, inadvertently increasing speed and turning left, ultimately driving the vehicle onto a curb and into a metal fence.
The second crash in January 2026 followed a similar chain of events. The ADS was driving straight when assistance was requested. The teleoperator took control and accidentally drove into a temporary construction barricade at approximately 9 MPH, scraping the front-left fender and tire.
Teleoperator Involvement and Crash Reporting
Tesla's admission comes after revealing to lawmakers that remote operators can control its vehicles if speeds are kept under 10 miles per hour. This capability is intended to reposition vehicles safely without waiting for first responders or Tesla representatives.
Unlike other companies working on autonomous vehicles, Tesla had previously redacted its crash descriptions for confidentiality. However, Tesla recently changed its approach, allowing a narrative description of all 17 crashes recorded since last year.
Other Robotaxi Crashes
Among other newly unredacted incidents, two involved a Tesla Robotaxi clipping mirrors with other vehicles, and one in September 2025 involved the ADS failing to avoid a dog, though the dog was unharmed.
Another crash in September 2025 saw a Tesla Robotaxi make an unprotected left turn into a parking lot, colliding with a metal chain. This is part of a wider issue with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software that the NHTSA recently closed an investigation on.
Industry Comparisons and Safety Concerns
Other companies like Waymo and Zoox have reported more crashes than Tesla, but Tesla’s operations are on a smaller scale. The detailed disclosures may explain the slow expansion of Tesla's autonomous network. Elon Musk noted that ensuring safety is the primary constraint on scaling the network, indicating that Tesla is proceeding cautiously.
These incidents reflect the complexities and challenges facing autonomous vehicle developers like Tesla in ensuring safe operations while advancing technology.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/15/tesla-reveals-two-robotaxi-crashes-involving-teleoperators/
