NHTSA Investigates Tesla's Smart Summon Feature After Multiple Crashes

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla's vehicle-summoning technology following multiple crashes. The probe centers on Tesla's "Actually Smart Summon" feature, which allows users to remotely move their vehicles using a smartphone app. This feature is part of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities and has been implicated in incidents where vehicles failed to detect obstacles such as posts or parked cars, leading to collisions.

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The NHTSA's investigation was prompted by four reported crashes involving Tesla vehicles operating in Actually Smart Summon mode. These incidents highlighted issues with the feature's ability to detect and avoid obstacles, as well as the limited reaction time available to users to prevent crashes. The agency is particularly concerned about the feature's performance in public road settings and its maximum speed capabilities.

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The probe covers approximately 2.6 million Tesla vehicles, including Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles equipped with the optional FSD driver assistance system from model years 2016 to 2025. The NHTSA will evaluate the remote control functionality through the phone app, assess connectivity delays, and examine the system's performance under unforeseen conditions.

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This investigation is the fourth by the NHTSA targeting Tesla's autonomous driving technologies. Previous probes have examined Tesla's Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems, with a particular focus on ensuring that these systems do not encourage driver inattention or misuse.

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The regulatory scrutiny has already impacted Tesla's stock, which fell 1.3% following the announcement of the probe. The NHTSA's preliminary evaluation will determine whether the investigation needs to be escalated to an engineering analysis, potentially leading to a recall if significant safety issues are identified.