Tesla Moves To Block City Of Austin From Releasing Robotaxi Information - CleanTechnica

Tesla plans to launch a robotaxi service using its Full Self Driving (FSD) technology on public roads in Austin, Texas, starting June 10. However, the company is aggressively seeking to keep details about this trial confidential. Tesla has requested a federal judge to block the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from releasing crash data related to its Autopilot and FSD systems. Additionally, Tesla is pressuring the city of Austin and the Texas Attorney General’s office to withhold information about the robotaxi trial, citing concerns over revealing proprietary and competitively sensitive details such as deployment procedures and operational strategies. Despite public interest, specifics like the exact streets where the geofenced robotaxis will operate remain undisclosed. Tesla’s efforts to maintain secrecy extend beyond Austin, reflecting a broader pattern of limiting transparency about its autonomous driving technology. This includes influencing federal transportation authorities to reduce reporting requirements for robotaxi-related incidents, thereby minimizing public access to safety data. Critics argue that Tesla’s approach prioritizes corporate interests and secrecy over public safety and informed consent, especially given past incidents where Tesla vehicles operating in FSD mode have been involved in crashes, including fatal ones. The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between innovation, regulatory oversight, and the public’s right to information about emerging autonomous vehicle technologies.