Uber partner Avride is under investigation for self-driving crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Avride, a robotaxi service associated with Uber, following the report of over a dozen crashes, including one minor injury. The office responsible for defect investigations, known as the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), stated that all 16 incidents appear to stem from issues with Avride's autonomous driving technology, which has faced challenges in changing lanes, reacting to nearby vehicles, and addressing stationary obstacles. Notably, these accidents occurred while safety monitors were present in the driver’s seat of Avride vehicles, raising questions about their lack of intervention during these events. In response to the inquiry, Avride refrained from providing an explanation but emphasized its commitment to transparency, citing that it reported the incidents to the NHTSA as mandated by the agency's 2021 regulations for automated driving. The company asserted that it has taken targeted measures to improve operational safety and has enhanced its overall system capabilities since the incidents, stating, "Our total operations have continued to grow, while the frequency of incidents relative to our mileage has steadily declined." Uber has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding this investigation. Avride, which is a subsidiary of Nebius—previously known as Yandex NV—has gained recognition for its sidewalk delivery robots and has been working on self-driving vehicles for several years, partnering with Uber in 2024. That partnership included a commitment from Uber and Nebius for potential investments and other support amounting up to $375 million. The investigation emerges shortly after Uber began operating Avride's robotaxi services in Dallas, Texas, where many of the reported accidents have taken place. Some incidents also occurred in Austin. One noteworthy crash involved a robotaxi carrying a passenger, highlighting the stakes involved as autonomous vehicle technologies undergo increased scrutiny amid expanded testing and deployment across the U.S. In a related context, Waymo is currently under investigation by both the NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board due to troubling incidents involving school buses and a crash in January where a child was struck by one of its robotaxis. The ODI has concluded a preliminary review of footage from the Avride crashes, revealing multiple instances of the vehicles failing to navigate safely, such as changing lanes into the path of other vehicles or not stopping for stopped traffic ahead. One of the reported crashes resulting in a minor injury occurred in December 2025 in Dallas, where an Avride-operated Hyundai Ioniq 5 collided with the open door of a parked pickup truck, leading to an injury that did not necessitate hospitalization. Other incidents included one where an Avride robotaxi attempted to maneuver around a parked truck but ended up colliding with a nearby van, causing damage to both vehicles. Additional crashes involved various vehicles turning into the path of Avride robotaxis, though the potential for avoidance remains unclear. Notably, only one incident involved a safety monitor attempting to intervene.