By Tesla’s own math, it reveals that its robotaxis are 4x worse at driving than humans, with redactions hiding even more details

Fortune

by Catherina Gioino

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Tesla’s robotaxis have shown a concerning safety record, with internal data revealing they are four times worse at driving than humans. According to Tesla’s own Vehicle Safety Report, its autonomous vehicles in Austin were involved in 14 crashes over just 800,000 miles, compared to the average human driver in a Tesla who would have been involved in only four minor collisions over the same distance. This stark disparity highlights significant challenges with the company’s autopilot system. The incidents occurred between December 2025 and January 2026 and included collisions with buses, heavy trucks, and stationary objects at varying speeds, including one crash where a Tesla was going 17mph while driving straight into a fixed object. These crashes occurred in a single city within less than a month, raising questions about the reliability of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology. Tesla’s redaction of detailed crash reports has drawn criticism, as the company is the only automaker to fully obscure crash narratives under NHTSA confidentiality provisions. Unlike competitors like Waymo and Zoox, which provide more transparency, Tesla has kept the public in the dark about these incidents. This lack of disclosure has led to accusations that Tesla is hiding the true extent of its software defects. The safety concerns are particularly significant for business and finance stakeholders. If Tesla’s robotaxis continue to underperform compared to human drivers, it could undermine public trust in the technology and hinder the company’s expansion plans. Investors may also question whether these safety issues will impact Tesla’s profitability and market valuation. As autonomous driving becomes increasingly competitive, Tesla’s inability to match or exceed human safety standards could give an edge to rivals like Waymo, which has a much better safety record. In summary, while Tesla touts the potential of its autonomous vehicles, the recent crash data and lack of transparency raise serious doubts about the technology’s readiness for widespread use. For businesses and consumers alike, these findings underscore the importance of prioritizing safety in the development and deployment of self-driving systems.

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/26/2026