The reasoning behind Elon Musk’s determination to closely again former (and future) President Donald Trump in addition to be the “first buddy” is changing into extra clear now. The Trump Administration is ready to take over about 80 federal car problem probes that had been opened underneath President Joe Biden. A type of probes simply occurs to be the huge Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software program. I’ve all the arrogance on the earth this may go nicely.
Underneath Biden, NHTSA has been analyzing if FSD can safely function in fog, mud, glare and different decreased visibility circumstances, based on Bloomberg. The probe was led to following 4 critical Tesla crashes the place FSD was engaged and coping with some of these circumstances. One in every of them was even concerned a pedestrian being killed.
Right here’s a bit extra historical past between Elon, Tesla and NHTSA, as defined by Bloomberg:
Whereas Musk steered days after the investigation began that Tesla and his different firms have been topic to “lawfare” by federal regulators, defect probes are par for the course within the US. NHTSA has initiated 155 of them throughout Biden’s presidency, solely modestly greater than the 135 opened throughout Trump’s first time period.
Tesla autos have been the topic of 12 defect investigations opened underneath Biden. NHTSA has initiated 23 queries into Ford autos underneath Biden, and opened extra probes of Stellantis (18) and Honda (14) automobiles and vehicles.
It’s going to be very attention-grabbing to see simply how a lot energy Musk will wield in Trump’s administration at NHTSA and the Division of Transportation and he’ll have the ability to make some of these investigations into his many firms disappear. I’m not a betting man, but when I used to be I’d say the sensible cash is that these investigations shall be dropped. He would possibly get distracted by his dumbass “Division of Governmental Effectivity” although, so who actually is aware of. I suppose it’s additionally attainable Musk might dismantle these companies via the “shockwaves” he says he’s going to ship via Washington, D.C.
Musk has lately been upping the anti relating to his messaging about Tesla and autonomy. Right here’s what he’s been saying and the way NHTSA has reacted, based on Bloomberg:
Musk has leaned into the know-how like by no means earlier than in an effort to distinguish Tesla’s autos as gross sales have slipped. He’s cautioned in opposition to proudly owning his firm’s inventory except you’re a devotee (“If any person doesn’t consider Tesla goes to unravel autonomy, I feel they shouldn’t be an investor within the firm,” he stated in April.) Tesla acknowledged $326 million in income final quarter linked to FSD, and a few analysts anticipate software program releases to finally develop into the predominant generator of the corporate’s income.
NHTSA has taken discover of Musk’s aggressive messaging. In a submitting posted to its web site final week — two days after Kamala Harris conceded the presidential race to Trump — the company hooked up an e-mail that one in every of its officers despatched to Tesla representatives in Might. The official flagged seven of Tesla’s social media posts about FSD that had given the company pause.
The posts showcased drivers who weren’t protecting their arms on the wheel whereas utilizing FSD, and conveyed messages that conflicted with how Tesla messages to clients in proprietor’s manuals and elsewhere. NHTSA famous that an X person commented on one of many posts that they might see folks getting residence safely in a Tesla after ingesting at a sporting occasion — an alarming conclusion to attract a few system that also holds the driving force absolutely answerable for steering, stopping and going.
“Whereas Tesla has the discretion to speak with the general public because it sees match, we notice that these posts present misplaced alternatives to mood enthusiasm for a brand new product with cautions on its correct use,” Gregory Magno, a division chief inside NHTSA’s Workplace of Defects Investigation, wrote within the e-mail.
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“We request that Tesla revisit its communications to guarantee that its messaging is in line with the statements made in its person directions and applicable to the extent of functionality deployed to the general public roads,” he wrote.
We’re going to have to attend and see as as to whether the Trump Administration permits Tesla to deploy robotaxis on U.S. roads. There may be nonetheless an extended method to go earlier than we get to that time, and hopefully it stays that method.
