Tesla is under investigation by the US government after reports that its self-driving cars broke traffic laws, including driving on the wrong side of the road and ignoring red lights.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been 58 reports of such incidents involving Tesla vehicles. The investigation will cover around 2.9 million cars equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology.
The NHTSA said its preliminary evaluation would assess the “scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences” of Tesla’s system. In this mode, cars can perform lane changes and turns, but drivers must stay alert to take control when needed.
Officials said six crashes occurred when cars moved off before traffic lights turned green, with four resulting in injuries. Tesla has reportedly acted to fix a recurring red-light issue at a Maryland intersection.
The agency will also review claims of cars entering the opposite lane while turning, noting that some drivers had “little notice or opportunity to intervene”.
Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk — now the world’s first half-trillionaire — has been approached for comment. The company already faces another NHTSA investigation after reports of children becoming trapped inside Model Y cars, forcing some owners to smash windows to free them.
Meanwhile, Tesla recently launched cheaper versions of its best-selling models to compete with Chinese rivals. Musk, once close to Donald Trump, also drew headlines in July after announcing his new political group, the America Party.
