Tesla(US:TSLA) Feng Huang Wang·2025-04-10 07:57Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the impact of recent layoffs at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Tesla's development of autonomous driving technology, highlighting concerns about regulatory oversight and the potential hindrance to Tesla's operations [1][2]. Group 1: Layoffs and Regulatory Impact - Approximately 30 employees from NHTSA were laid off as part of a government efficiency initiative, significantly affecting the morale within the agency [1]. - NHTSA is currently conducting eight investigations into Tesla, having received over 10,000 public complaints [1]. - The layoffs are believed to weaken NHTSA's understanding of autonomous driving technology, which could impede Tesla's development [1][2]. Group 2: Tesla's Future Plans - Tesla aims to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas by June and plans to produce a fleet of autonomous "cybercabs" next year [1]. - To operate non-standard autonomous vehicles on U.S. roads, Tesla requires exemptions from NHTSA [1]. - A Tesla manager emphasized the need for NHTSA to increase staffing to develop a national framework for autonomous vehicles, indicating that without this, Tesla's scaling efforts in fully autonomous driving or ride-hailing may be severely limited [2].