Tesla’s autonomous vehicles have crashed twice since July 2025 while being remotely driven by teleoperators.

Both incidents occurred at low speeds in Austin, Texas. A safety monitor was present but no passengers were onboard. Tesla argues this capability allows for immediate vehicle recovery, avoiding the need to wait for a first responder.

The latest unredacted data from NHTSA reveals that in one incident, the teleoperator had to take over when the car’s automated driving system struggled, leading to contact with a metal fence. In another similar event, the car collided with a temporary construction barricade at about 9mph.

Despite these crashes, Tesla is scaling up its network cautiously, citing safety as the biggest limiting factor for expansion. Musk admitted that ensuring complete safety is crucial in Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing venture.