Recent test drives of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature have raised concerns about the company's autonomous driving capabilities. A Wall Street analyst's experience highlighted potential safety issues with the technology, casting doubt on CEO Elon Musk's vision of a future dominated by robotaxis.
The analyst reported that during a demonstration drive, the Tesla Model Y equipped with FSD made several illegal maneuvers, including changing lanes in restricted areas and accelerating through an intersection where an accident was narrowly avoided due to human intervention. Despite some improvements in handling disruptions like lane closures and potholes, the system still exhibited flaws compared to previous tests.
Musk has been vocal about the transformative potential of self-driving technology, envisioning a fleet of robotaxis that could significantly increase the value of Tesla vehicles. However, delays in rolling out the robotaxi service and concerns raised by regulators about the safety of Tesla's Autopilot feature have added to the skepticism surrounding Tesla's autonomous driving ambitions.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered recalls of Tesla vehicles due to safety risks associated with Autopilot and FSD. Issues such as insufficient adherence to traffic laws and the potential for drivers to misuse the technology have prompted regulatory scrutiny.
While Musk remains optimistic about Tesla's future and the potential for its shares to reach unprecedented valuations, challenges in perfecting self-driving technology and ensuring regulatory approval continue to pose obstacles for the company.
As Tesla works to address concerns raised by analysts and regulators, the future of its self-driving ambitions remains uncertain, with the company's ability to deliver on Musk's bold predictions hanging in the balance.
