- Vehicle Tech
- Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla staffers claim the company isn't close to safely delivering autonomous vehicles at scale
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Rivian)
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
- Rivian’s boss believes we will have eyes-off driving within 18 months
- It will be the “most disruptive feature we’ve seen”, according to RJ Scaringe
- But a new report suggests Tesla engineers and staff don’t trust the technology
Rivian’s boss and CEO, RJ Scaringe, believes that we will see increasing levels of autonomous driving arriving in the coming months.
Speaking to Top Gear during a test drive of the upcoming R2, which the company hopes will be its first electric SUV with true mass appeal, Scaringe revealed that he thinks we will move from level two to three, which includes hands-off and eyes-off autonomous driving, within “the next 18 months”.
He also went on to state that he believes we will reach true Level 4 autonomous driving by the end of the decade. At that point, vehicles will be able to handle all driving tasks within geofenced zones.
Latest Videos FromWatch full video here: You may like
-
Two more high-profile Tesla crashes spark fresh Full Self-Driving controversy
-
Elon Musk says only one model of Tesla car will be driven by humans soon
-
Tesla's controversial self-driving tech just got a green light in Europe
Human passengers are relieved of duties because Level 4 autonomous vehicles should be capable of reaching a safe state in the event of a system failure. It is the level that most fully autonomous robotaxis currently operate in, but it is not something that has been made commercially viable to date.
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has regularly stated that the company’s autonomous driving technology is capable of allowing those behind the wheel to “text and drive", as well as engage in other distracting side tasks.
But a recent Reuters report seemingly counters this, claiming that even those who work closely with the systems don’t trust them.
Speaking with nine former Tesla data labelers, a former self-driving engineer, and 11 traffic-safety researchers, the Reuters report found that seven of the former data labelers said they wouldn’t trust FSD to drive them.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.“We have all seen it fail,” one said. Another said he wouldn’t ride in a Tesla robotaxi “if you f****g paid me.”
One veteran self-driving engineer, who reviewed Tesla crash data for years, called its safety claims “bullsh*t.”
The report goes on to state that Tesla's FSD crash reporting is confusing and misleading, refuting its claims that the technology is "10 x safer than a human".
What to read next-
I took a ride in an Nvidia-powered autonomous Mercedes at GTC 2026 - and survived
-
Tesla's massive Spring update splits opinion as it leaves older cars behind
-
Tesla’s new AI5 chip won't improve Full Self-Driving anytime soon
Analysis: hype isn’t helping
The data labelers that Reuters spoke to have the unenviable job of reviewing footage from eight exterior cameras on Tesla vehicles using Full Self-Driving (FSD).
You could argue that they only see the bad sides of FSD, but most of those interviewed confessed to regularly seeing the technology fail at basic tasks, such as pulling over for emergency vehicles, leaving enough room for motorcyclists and cyclists, and even avoiding construction zones.
What’s more, a specialized group, known internally and informally as the “trauma team”, said it focused on near-misses and other dangerous situations.
One person said they saw clips showing drivers manually taking over at the last second when FSD failed to recognize pedestrians in crosswalks.
Two other former employees recalled seeing videos last year of FSD-piloted Teslas nearly hitting children.
Both Rivian and Tesla’s CEOs feel that improvements in Large Language Models and the microchips that power modern vehicles will speed up the introduction of greater levels of automation in passenger vehicles, but it’s way more complicated than that, involving driver education, legislation, and more.
Many feel that to allow motorists to engage in side tasks and effectively hand over driving duties to the vehicle means the technology has to be perfect, not just “safer than a human” driver.
Overinflating the technology's capabilities has previously led to confusion and complacency among users, which, in Tesla’s case at least, has already resulted in myriad court cases and ongoing regulatory scrutiny.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
TOPICS tesla
Leon PoultneyEVs correspondentLeon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Elon Musk says only one model of Tesla car will be driven by humans soon
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla's controversial self-driving tech just got a green light in Europe
Pro
I took a ride in an Nvidia-powered autonomous Mercedes at GTC 2026 - and survived
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla's massive Spring update splits opinion as it leaves older cars behind
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla’s new AI5 chip won't improve Full Self-Driving anytime soon
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla owners in Europe demand $7,500 refund as Full Self-Driving anger grows
Latest in Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Hate the Ferrari Luce? Maybe this wild aftermarket bodykit might make you think otherwise
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
I’ve driven the most powerful production Porsche — and it's otherworldly
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Drivers aren't sold on the Ferrari Luce, but designer Jony Ive defends it
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
I’ve driven the smallest Kia EV yet and there’s a lot to love about the baby of the bunch
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Tesla's Wade Mode lands owner in trouble as Cybertruck becomes lodged in a lake
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
Huawei’s XPixel smart headlight can project games, TV and more onto any surface
Latest in News
Pro
Microsoft’s Project Solara looks to break AI out of the PC and into the real world
Pro
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella looks to allay fears over data center energy and water use
Pro
“AI is now useful”: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang thinks a new era for AI is here
Pro
How a former Facebook whistleblower is being silenced 'regardless of whether what she says is true'
Health & Fitness
Want a Runna membership for free? All you have to do to get 2 weeks free is log a 5k on Strava on June 3
VPN Services
Decentralized NymVPN rolls out post-quantum protections as standard alongside a massive redesign
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Rivian's boss says Level 4 autonomous driving is "closer than people think"
- 2'Stop duct-taping human email into machine workflows' — Hostinger unleashes Agentic Mail to fix the biggest bottleneck in AI automation
- 3Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella looks to allay fears over data center energy and water use
- 4Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, June 3 (game #1591)
- 5NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, June 3 (game #1088)