NHTSA INVESTIGATES UBER PARTNER AVRIDE OVER CRASHES

The NHTSA investigation centers on Avride's self-driving vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents. The agency identified at least 13 crashes involving Avride's autonomous systems, with one resulting in a minor injury. Avride operates robotaxi services in select U.S. markets as part of Uber's autonomous vehicle strategy. The company has been developing Level 4 autonomous driving technology designed to operate without human intervention in defined conditions. The investigation will examine whether the crashes indicate a systematic safety defect or design flaw. NHTSA typically uses such probes to determine if broader recalls or safety requirements are needed. This marks another scrutiny point for autonomous vehicle developers as the industry scales operations. Previous investigations have examined Tesla's autopilot system and other self-driving platforms. Avride has not yet commented on the investigation's scope or timeline.