NHTSA Investigates Uber Partner Avride Over Self-Driving Vehicle Crashes

Investigation Launched into Avride's Self-Driving Capabilities

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into Avride, a robotaxi company that collaborates with Uber, due to a concerning series of self-driving vehicle crashes. Over the past few months, reports have surfaced highlighting a total of 16 incidents, including one minor injury, raising alarms about the safety and reliability of Avride's autonomous driving technology.

Focus of the Investigation

According to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), the investigation centers on the self-driving system's ability to change lanes and respond to obstacles. Detailed analyses of video footage from the incidents reveal troubling behaviors, such as instances where vehicles did not reduce speed before colliding with stationary objects or failed to navigate safely around other vehicles in close proximity.

All the crashes occurred while Avride vehicles were under the supervision of a safety monitor seated in the driver’s chair. Despite inquiries about the monitors' lack of intervention during these failures, Avride did not provide a response. The company did, however, emphasize its compliance with NHTSA's reporting regulations, stating that it duly informed the agency about the incidents under the 2021 guidelines governing automated driving systems.

Avride's Response to Concerns

In a statement concerning the NHTSA investigation, Avride indicated that it has already undertaken measures to enhance the safety of its self-driving systems, stating, "We have implemented targeted technical and operational mitigations to address our findings from each reported incident between December 2025 and March 2026, and have further enhanced overall system capabilities." Avride has asserted that despite these incidents, its operational activities continue to expand, while the frequency of accidents has declined relative to mileage.

The Relationship Between Avride and Uber

Avride, which has gained recognition for its sidewalk delivery robots, is a subsidiary of Nebius, previously known as Yandex NV. The company has invested considerable time and resources into developing self-driving cars and established a partnership with Uber in 2024. Under this partnership, Uber and Nebius committed to substantial investments totaling up to $375 million to support Avride.

This investigation comes just months after Uber initiated rides in Avride's robotaxis in Dallas, Texas, where multiple crashes have taken place. Additional incidents have also been reported in Austin, Texas. Notably, at least one of these crashes involved a passenger in the robotaxi.

Broader Context of Autonomous Vehicle Scrutiny

As companies across the United States expand their testing and deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies, regulatory scrutiny has intensified. In a related context, Waymo is currently under investigation by NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board regarding certain legal violations involving school buses as well as a serious incident where a robotaxi struck a child.

NHTSA's preliminary review findings on Avride's crashes indicated serious lapses in the vehicle's response capabilities, such as improperly changing lanes into adjacent traffic and failing to slow for obstructions. The most notable incident occurred in December 2025 in Dallas, where an Avride vehicle collided with a parked pickup truck, leading to a minor injury for one of the occupants while another crash illustrated a dangerous lane change that led to a collision with a van.

As the investigation unfolds, the safety and efficacy of autonomous vehicle technologies remain at the forefront of public and regulatory discourse, highlighting the critical need for strict oversight in this rapidly advancing sector.