In the rapidly evolving world of autonomous vehicles, Tesla Inc. has once again found itself under scrutiny, this time for allegedly attempting to obscure details surrounding three accidents involving its nascent Robotaxi service. According to a recent report from Electrek, the electric vehicle giant is pushing back against transparency demands from regulators, redacting key information in reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These incidents, which occurred in July during the service’s inaugural month in Austin, Texas, highlight ongoing challenges in deploying self-driving technology at scale, even as Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk touts the system’s capabilities.

The accidents reportedly involved Tesla’s autonomous vehicles operating under the Robotaxi program, with at least one resulting in a minor injury. Electrek’s investigation reveals that Tesla has sought to withhold specifics, such as crash narratives and vehicle data, citing competitive sensitivities. This move comes amid broader questions about the safety and reliability of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which powers the Robotaxi fleet. Industry observers note that while Tesla has made strides in unsupervised autonomy, these events underscore persistent issues like phantom braking and navigation errors, as seen in earlier mishaps documented in videos from riders.

Regulatory Pushback and Transparency Concerns

Tesla’s request to NHTSA to keep its responses confidential isn’t new; a prior Electrek article detailed similar efforts following the Robotaxi launch, where the company asked to shield answers to regulatory queries. Critics, including Dan O’Dowd of the Dawn Project, have publicly lambasted this approach. In a report covered by Benzinga, O’Dowd accused Tesla of hiding defects, claiming the redactions prevent full public assessment of risks. This opacity contrasts with competitors like Waymo, which has faced its own accidents but often provides more detailed disclosures.

For industry insiders, these developments raise alarms about accountability in the autonomous driving sector. Tesla’s Robotaxi, rolled out with much fanfare, relies on a vision-based system without lidar, a choice Musk defends as cost-effective but one that has drawn skepticism. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) from users and analysts reflect a mix of sentiments, with some highlighting Tesla’s lower accident rate per million miles compared to averages, while others decry perceived cover-ups. Yet, as Electrek noted in a July piece, Tesla itself admitted during an earnings call that unsupervised self-driving remains unsolved, complicating its aggressive deployment strategy.

Broader Implications for Autonomous Mobility

The accidents also spotlight operational hiccups, such as an awkward incident where a safety monitor had to intervene mid-traffic, as detailed in another Electrek report. Videos from Austin tests, shared widely and analyzed by outlets like Yahoo Tech, show vehicles struggling with left turns or curbs, fueling debates over whether Tesla prioritizes publicity over safety. Waymo’s founder, John Krafcik, has even mocked Tesla’s progress, per Electrek, pointing to his company’s more mature operations.

As Tesla expands Robotaxi access—now allowing iPhone users to join waitlists via an app, according to Electrek—the pressure from regulators and rivals intensifies. NHTSA’s role in scrutinizing these reports could set precedents for how companies handle crash data, potentially forcing Tesla to reveal more. For now, these hidden accidents serve as a cautionary tale: in the race to dominate autonomous transport, transparency may be as crucial as technology itself, lest public trust erode amid unreported risks.