Benzinga·2025-09-17 10:50Core Viewpoint - The founder of The Dawn Project, Dan O'Dowd, has criticized Tesla for redacting its Robotaxi crash reports submitted to the NHTSA, suggesting that the company is concealing the defects in its software [1][2][3]. Group 1: Tesla's Robotaxi Incidents - Tesla's supervised Robotaxi reportedly experienced three crashes and resulted in one injury within a month of operation, as highlighted by O'Dowd [2]. - O'Dowd shared an image of NHTSA crash test reports indicating that Tesla's reports were redacted, which he claims reflects the company's fear of public scrutiny regarding its software defects [2][3]. Group 2: NHTSA Investigation - The NHTSA has initiated a probe into Tesla due to delays in submitting crash test reports related to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Autopilot software, with some reports submitted in batches and others on a rolling basis [4]. - Tesla attributed the delays to data collection issues, which the company claims have now been resolved [4]. Group 3: Tesla's Autonomous Strategy - Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, is reportedly focusing on enhancing the company's artificial intelligence and autopilot capabilities, alongside the expansion of the Robotaxi service in Austin, which will operate with an onboard safety operator [5]. - Despite skepticism from experts regarding Tesla's ability to achieve full autonomy, bullish predictions suggest that the autonomous driving and AI market could represent a $1 trillion opportunity for the company [6]. Group 4: Legal Challenges - Tesla's FSD technology is facing lawsuits from both investors and customers concerning its effectiveness and safety, particularly after incidents during the Austin Robotaxi launch event [7].