Technical

Srinivasa Reddy Kandi: Tesla Discloses Two Robotaxi Crashes Involving Remote Teleoperators

May, 19, 2026-02:11

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Tesla Discloses Two Robotaxi Crashes Involving Remote Teleoperators:

Tesla has revealed new details about two crashes involving its Robotaxi vehicles in Austin, both of which occurred while remote teleoperators were controlling the cars.

The incidents, recently disclosed through updated filings submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), took place at low speeds and involved no passengers. In both cases, a safety monitor was seated behind the wheel during the accidents.

The disclosures provide additional insight into how Tesla’s developing Robotaxi network operates. Earlier this year, the company informed lawmakers that remote operators are permitted to take control of vehicles at speeds below 10 miles per hour. Tesla said the system allows operators to reposition vehicles that may become stuck or encounter operational issues without waiting for in-person assistance.

Tesla, like other autonomous driving companies, is legally required to report crash data to the NHTSA. However, unlike competitors, the company had historically redacted descriptions of its incidents, arguing the information constituted confidential business material. This week, Tesla changed that approach, and the newly released records now include narrative descriptions for all 17 Robotaxi-related crashes reported since the service launched.

One of the disclosed incidents occurred in July 2025 shortly after Tesla began operating its Robotaxi service in Austin. According to the report, the vehicle’s Automated Driving System (ADS) struggled to move forward while stopped on a street. A safety monitor requested assistance from Tesla’s remote operations team, after which a teleoperator assumed control of the vehicle.

While remotely driving, the operator reportedly increased the vehicle’s speed and steered left, eventually driving onto a curb and colliding with a metal fence.

A second incident took place in January 2026. In that case, the Robotaxi’s ADS was traveling straight when the safety monitor requested remote support for navigation assistance. Once the vehicle stopped, a teleoperator took control and continued driving forward. The vehicle then struck a temporary construction barricade at approximately 9 miles per hour, scraping the front-left fender and tire.

The newly unredacted data also shows that, similar to incidents involving competitors such as Waymo, many of Tesla’s other reported Robotaxi crashes involved its vehicles being hit by other drivers rather than directly causing collisions themselves.

Author: Kandi Srinivasa Reddy, Srinivasa Reddy Kandi, #KandiSrinivasaReddy, #SrinivasaReddyKandi