Tesla’s robotaxi test: Three crashes in only 7,000 miles

Austin, Texas has become a focal point for autonomous vehicle testing, attracting companies like Waymo and Zoox due to its favorable regulations and ample driving conditions. This summer, Tesla joined the ranks of these innovators, aiming to explore the potential of robotaxi services. However, the company's initial foray into testing has not gone smoothly. According to crash reports highlighted by Brad Templeton from Forbes, Tesla encountered three accidents during its very first day of operations on July 1. By that point, the company had only accumulated 7,000 miles in its testing endeavors. In stark contrast, Waymo reported a crash rate significantly lower than Tesla's, with only 60 crashes over an impressive 50 million miles of driving—now totaling over 96 million miles. Among Tesla's incidents, two involved other vehicles rear-ending the Model Y, with at least one of these accidents likely not attributable to Tesla's technology. The third incident was more concerning, as a Model Y, equipped with a safety operator, collided with a stationary object at low speed, resulting in a minor injury. Additionally, there was a fourth crash that took place in a parking lot, which remains unreported due to its setting. Unfortunately, many specifics regarding these crashes have been obscured in Tesla's reports.