NHTSA Investigates Tesla Over Delayed Crash Reports Amid Musk's Autonomous Ambitions

Tesla Inc., under the leadership of Elon Musk, is currently under federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for failing to comply with mandatory accident reporting requirements. The agency discovered that some accident reports submitted by Tesla occurred months before they were reported.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation noted that this delay in reporting could be due to data collection issues, which Tesla claims to have rectified. According to U.S. regulations, automakers must report any accidents involving their vehicles' partially or fully automated driving systems within five days of being informed about such incidents on public roads.

The ongoing "audit query" by the NHTSA aims to verify Tesla's adherence to these reporting protocols, further investigating the causes and extent of any reporting delays, and assessing any corrective measures that Tesla has implemented to address these deficiencies.

This inquiry will also assess whether Tesla has omitted any past incidents or if their submitted reports to safety regulators include all necessary and available data. The investigation coincides with Musk's efforts to position Tesla as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology, claiming the safety of its systems for potential deployment in robotaxi services.

Tesla vehicles sold in the U.S. feature standard Autopilot systems or premium "Full Self-Driving" capabilities, both requiring driver oversight. As Musk seeks to assure investors of Tesla's role in the autonomous driving landscape, this NHTSA investigation presents a critical test of the company's compliance and transparency with safety regulations.