Category: NHTSA

GM, Ford Seek US OK to Deploy Self-Driving Vehicles Without Steering Wheels

General Motors and Ford Motor have asked U.S. auto safety regulators to grant exemptions to deploy a limited number of self-driving vehicles without human controls like steering wheels and brake pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday published the separate petitions and opened them for public comment for 30 days. NHTSA has…


Amazon-Owned Self Driving Firm Zoox Seeks to Test Robotaxi in California

FREMONT, Calif—Zoox, a self-driving technology firm owned by Amazon.com Inc, said on Tuesday it was gearing up to launch its robotaxi business, self-certifying that its vehicle with no pedals or steering wheel meets U.S. federal regulations and applying for a permit in California to test-drive it. “We really invested the extra time and resources to…


US Wants Automakers to Collect More ‘Black Box’ Crash Data

WASHINGTON—U.S. auto regulators said Wednesday they want to require automakers to collect more crash data from event data recorders (EDRs)—more commonly known as “black boxes.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Wednesday proposed requiring black boxes to collect 20 seconds of pre-crash data at a higher frequency rate to help better understand the…


NHTSA Upgrades Probe of Autopilot Teslas Colliding With Emergency Vehicles, Increasing Possibility of Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has upgraded its investigation into collisions of Tesla vehicles with the autopilot feature switched on, meaning the automobiles are potentially one step closer to being recalled. NHTSA initially launched its investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot feature in August 2021, following a string of crashes in which Tesla vehicles operating in…


US Agency Asks Tesla for Information on Canadian Fire Incident

WASHINGTON—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday it has asked Tesla Inc. for information about a recent 2021 Tesla Model Y fire in Vancouver, British Columbia, in which a driver reported struggling to exit. The NHTSA told Reuters the agency “is aware of the incident and has reached out to the manufacturer…


Proposed Safety Rules Would Give Feds More Control Over Your Car

Federal regulators are considering new vehicle safety features and requesting public comments about the immediate changes, but it’s the agency’s future proposals under development that could give pause to consumers who are concerned about privacy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates the auto industry in numerous ways, including the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which…


Hyundai Recalls 215,000 Sonatas, Faulty Hoses Can Leak Fuel

DETROIT—Hyundai is recalling more than 215,000 midsize cars in the United States—most for a second time—because fuel hoses can leak in the engine compartment and cause fires. The recall covers certain 2013 and 2014 Sonata sedans, many of which were recalled for the same problem in 2020. The Korean automaker says in documents posted Wednesday…


US Boost Fines for Automakers Not Meeting Fuel Economy Rules in Tesla Win

WASHINGTON—The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Sunday reinstated a sharp increase in penalties for automakers whose vehicles do not meet fuel efficiency requirements for model years 2019 and beyond. The decision was a win for Tesla that could cost other automakers hundreds of millions of dollars or more. Confirming an earlier report…


New Vehicles to Be Rated on How They Make Drivers Stay Alert

DETROIT—Two organizations that influence many Americans’ automobile buying decisions will begin rating vehicles on how well they track behavior of motorists who use partially automated driver-assist systems. Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety say the ratings will factor into scores for new models starting this year. Automobile buyers often turn to both…


NHTSA in Talks With Tesla Over Reports of Autopilot Camera Failure

Tesla Inc. and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are in discussions to replace cameras in some vehicles made by the Elon Musk-led company. What Happened: The federal vehicle safety agency said it is aware of an issue related to faulty Autopilot cameras in some U.S.-made vehicles, reported CNBC. NHTSA said it is “monitoring…