Investigation into Robotaxi Accident Begins in the US, Pressure on Uber’s Partner Company

Staff Report: PNN
Questions have once again been raised in the United States regarding autonomous vehicle technology. Following several accidents, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into the robotaxi company Avride.

According to the US safety agency, at least 16 accidents involving the company’s autonomous system have been identified. In one case, a person was slightly injured. Investigators believe the vehicle’s software had problems in lane changing, detecting vehicles ahead, and avoiding stationary obstacles.

It is notable that in every accident, a human safety supervisor was present in the driver’s seat. However, the company has not clearly explained why they did not intervene to prevent the accidents.

The robotaxi service, operated in partnership with Uber, was recently launched in Dallas. Most of the accidents reportedly occurred in Dallas, while a few incidents were also reported in Austin.

The investigation report says that in some cases, robotaxis entered the path of adjacent vehicles. In others, they failed to respond in time to slow-moving or stationary vehicles. In one case, a collision occurred with a dumpster.

The most notable accident occurred in December 2025 in Dallas, when a Hyundai Ioniq 5-based robotaxi hit the open door of a parked pickup truck, injuring a person inside the truck.

In another incident, a robotaxi collided with a van while trying to avoid a parked truck, causing damage to both vehicles.

The company stated that after each accident, it introduced technical and operational changes. They claim that although usage has increased, the accident rate per mile has gradually decreased.

Avride, owned by Nebius, is primarily known for delivery robots. The company has long been working on autonomous vehicle technology and received major investment after partnering with Uber in 2024.

Experts say that as the use and testing of autonomous vehicles increase across the United States, safety concerns are also rising. Earlier, Waymo also faced investigations over school bus safety and pedestrian accidents.