US Investigates 2.6 Million Tesla Vehicles Over Remote Driving Feature

Investing.com -- The United States has initiated an investigation into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles related to accident reports linked to the "Actually Smart Summon" remote driving feature that was released in September, allowing users to summon their cars to their location or another designated point via a smartphone app.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is conducting the investigation based on reports that Tesla vehicles using this feature are unable to detect objects such as poles or parked vehicles. The agency noted that users do not have sufficient reaction time to prevent a collision by releasing the app button that halts the vehicle's movement. At least four accidents have been reported in connection with this feature.

This latest investigation follows a separate probe by the NHTSA into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with fully self-driving software. That previous investigation was initiated following reports of four crashes, including a fatal accident that occurred in 2023.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close advisor to presidential candidate Donald Trump, has previously expressed criticism of the NHTSA's actions. Following the news of the investigation, Tesla shares experienced a 3% drop in the stock market on Tuesday morning.