Tesla Inc.’s Robotaxi service has been involved in 14 crashes in Austin since its launch in June, according to its latest reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That includes five crashes in December and January, when CEO Elon Musk boasted that Tesla was testing its Robotaxi-branded Model Y vehicles for rides without safety monitors in the front seat.
Tesla redacts details of the incidents from the data it reports to the federal regulator, claiming it “may contain confidential business information.”
But the reports say this year’s crashes occurred on streets and in parking lots. All involved property damage but no injuries to passengers or pedestrians. Previous crashes have involved more severe injuries, including one described as “minor with hospitalization.”
Tesla also details that the latest crashes were with fixed objects, a pole or tree and a heavy truck. Another incident with a bus is being investigated by the Austin Police Department, the data shows.
The Austin automaker did not respond to a request for comment. But since the crashes, it has claimed it now offers some of its robotaxi rides in Austin without a human safety monitor aboard and will increase the number of unsupervised vehicles in its fleet over time.
The ride-hailing service has a much larger fleet in Austin, with about 200 vehicles to Tesla’s estimated 40. It also operates a fully driverless system, while Tesla still relies on front-seat safety monitors.
Waymo’s latest Austin crashes largely involved property damage, though one involved minor injuries it said didn’t require hospitalization.
That collision happened Jan. 1 and involved an SUV on South First Street near West Oltorf Street. The Waymo was reportedly stopped facing southwest in the designated left turn lane at a red light. While the Waymo was stopped, an SUV entered the designated left turn lane and approached the Waymo from behind. The front of the SUV made contact with the rear of the Waymo. Both vehicles were damaged and the passenger in the Waymo AV alleged a minor injury.
Narratives Waymo provided on other collisions include a speed bump hitting the underside of one of its vehicles on southbound I-35 Frontage Road near East 51st Street.
In another case, a Waymo was northbound on Airport Boulevard in the leftmost lane when it slowed to a stop in a queue of traffic for a red light. A passenger car that was initially stopped directly in front of the Waymo AV began to reverse and the Waymo AV activated its horn and hazard lights. The passenger car continued to reverse and the rear of the passenger car made contact with the front of the stationary Waymo.