[Robotaxi Battle: Korea, China, and the US]⑥Who Is Liable for Accidents?... US Revokes Permits and Orders Mandatory Recalls

"Tesla Robotaxi Accident Rate Is Four Times Higher"

Editor's NoteDriverless taxis, known as "robotaxis," have emerged as a key element of future mobility. The competition has shifted beyond simple technology races to a "data supremacy war," where the focus is on accumulating the most driving data and achieving real profitability. China, backed by aggressive government support, is rapidly amassing large-scale data, while the United States is advancing with unmatched AI technology. In contrast, Korea, despite its world-class manufacturing capabilities, is struggling to accelerate full-scale commercialization due to various regulatory hurdles and a lack of supporting systems. The Asia Business Daily takes a closer look at the autonomous driving landscape in Beijing, China and Las Vegas, United States, the data strategies of major American and Chinese tech companies, and the current state of Korea's autonomous driving sector. Through this three-part feature series, we explore the global frontlines of the robotaxi industry and seek survival strategies for our domestic industry.

The robotaxi operated by General Motors (GM)'s autonomous driving subsidiary Cruise was involved in a pedestrian accident in San Francisco, United States, in October 2023. This incident triggered a global debate over the safety of robotaxis, not just in the United States but around the world.

General Motors (GM) autonomous driving subsidiary 'Cruise' robotaxi stock photo

The Fall of General Motors (GM) Cruise: Eroding Trust in Autonomous Driving Due to Accident Cover-up

At a downtown intersection, a woman jaywalking was struck by another vehicle and then collided with a Cruise vehicle in the adjacent lane, becoming trapped underneath. After the collision, Cruise applied the brakes but, interpreting the event as a "side impact," assessed the situation and began to move the vehicle to a safe location to avoid obstructing traffic flow. Unaware that a person was caught underneath, the vehicle traveled about 6 meters, causing the woman to sustain severe injuries.

Although Cruise was not initially at fault for the accident, its subsequent response exacerbated the issue. When submitting video footage of the incident to government authorities, Cruise only showed the portion up to when the vehicle stopped, omitting the segment where the pedestrian was dragged. As a result of the attempted cover-up and false reporting, key executives were dismissed, and GM drastically reduced its investment in Cruise, ultimately halting the robotaxi business in December 2024.

Tesla's High Accident Rate and Secrecy: The Regulatory Dilemma Between Innovation and Safety

Since the vehicle’s system is responsible for driving, robotaxi operators bear full liability in the event of an accident. Accordingly, the United States requires robotaxi companies to report accidents to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Tesla reported a total of 14 accidents since launching its robotaxi service in Austin last June. These included collisions with stationary objects during driving and incidents where a bus struck a stationary robotaxi. The issue is that Tesla refuses to disclose specific accident details, citing "confidentiality."

According to Electrek, an electric vehicle-focused media outlet, "Tesla's Austin-based robotaxi fleet had accumulated approximately 800,000 miles of paid driving as of mid-January. This means there is one accident per roughly 57,000 miles driven. In comparison, the average American driver experiences a minor collision every 229,000 miles, indicating that robotaxis have nearly four times the accident rate."

In the United States, instead of comprehensive federal regulations for robotaxis, a flexible and decentralized regulatory environment is led by state and local governments. This approach prioritizes safety while still encouraging innovation. However, if a robotaxi accident is deemed by a state government to pose significant risks, operating permits can be revoked, and the NHTSA can issue a mandatory recall order after analyzing the incident. If a system malfunction is found to be the cause, the company is fully responsible for all compensation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.