Tesla Robotaxis Have Already Been Involved in Crashes in Austin | Carscoops

      As of July, Tesla's robotaxis in Texas had accumulated approximately 7,000 miles in testing.

      Recently, four separate incidents involving Tesla's robotaxis have been reported. Much of the critical information from the company's reports has been redacted for proprietary reasons.

      In one of the incidents, a Model Y struck a stationary object while traveling at about 8 mph.

      Tesla launched its highly anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on July 1, positioning itself alongside competitors like Waymo and Zoox. Many hailed it as a significant achievement for Elon Musk, marking the initial phase of a robotaxi rollout set to encompass extensive areas of the United States. However, new findings have disclosed that the Model Ys equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology navigating Austin's streets have already been involved in multiple accidents.

      Recent data obtained by Forbes indicates at least three accidents occurred on July 1. Initially believed to have all transpired that day, it now seems these incidents took place at various times throughout the month. Many specific details have been redacted by Tesla to safeguard proprietary information, although some basic facts have been revealed.

      **Initial Accidents Recorded**

      The first accident is noted to have occurred at 3:45 a.m. on an unspecified day in July. According to Tesla's account, the Model Y "was stopped (while going straight) and sustained rear-right damage from an SUV's front right. Police were summoned." The second incident is recorded at 12:20 p.m., stating that "Tesla struck a stationary object with its front-right at 8 mph. Minor injuries occurred, but no hospital visit was needed. Police were contacted, and Tesla was towed."

      In the third accident, which took place at 3:15 p.m., "the rear-right of the Tesla made contact with the front-right of an SUV while the Tesla was making a right turn at 2 mph. No police involvement was noted."

      **Robotaxi Challenges**

      At least one additional accident is believed to have occurred in July but was not officially reported. Forbes mentions that video evidence captured one of the robotaxis' tires hitting the side of a parked vehicle in a parking lot. The reason for this incident not being included in reports is unclear, but it could be related to it happening on private property or the damage being limited to tire marks.

      While it is uncertain how many miles the vehicles used in Tesla's Austin robotaxi service have traveled, Elon Musk stated at the end of July that they had logged approximately 7,000 miles in testing. In comparison, Waymo's autonomous vehicles have covered over 96 million miles since their launch several years ago.

      Safety statistics further highlight the differences. ArsTechnica reports that Waymo recorded 60 serious accidents, resulting in airbag deployments or injuries, during its first 50 million miles. Tesla's performance in Austin, still in its early stages, illustrates the potential challenges in the learning process ahead.