Tesla's Autonomous Taxi Ambitions Hit Roadblocks as NHTSA Investigates Safety Concerns

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested Tesla provide clarity regarding its upcoming paid autonomous taxi service planned for launch in Austin, Texas, this June. This inquiry comes as the agency examines incidents involving Tesla's Full-Self Driving system in conditions of reduced visibility.

According to the NHTSA's statement released Monday, the investigation aims to assess how the Tesla system reacts in adverse weather conditions, which is crucial for the safety and reliability of the autonomous taxi service. The agency is seeking detailed information to determine whether Tesla’s technology can responsibly navigate such challenges.

External sources have highlighted several hurdles Tesla faces in its autonomous taxi ambitions. Reports indicate the software has been involved in multiple road accidents, and experts assert that these vehicles are not entirely autonomous, requiring remote human intervention for safety.

Further complicating Tesla's plans is the issue of intellectual property. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied Tesla’s attempt to trademark "Robotaxi," arguing the term is too generic, as many companies use similar names for comparable services. Tesla has three months to respond to avoid dismissal of the application.

In addition, the "Cybercab" trademark application has been stalled due to other companies filing trademarks related to the "Cyber" prefix. These trademark challenges pose additional obstacles to Tesla’s endeavor to brand its autonomous taxi service uniquely.

Despite these challenges, Tesla remains committed to advancing its autonomous taxi fleet. Reports suggest Tesla has deployed approximately 300 test operators in Austin, with ongoing evaluations in several key cities to ensure the robustness and dependability of its self-driving systems.