Jeremy Clarkson criticizes the Cybercab. He said it ran a red light and missed the exit point.

Host Jeremy Clarkson tried out the Cybercab in Texas. He claimed Tesla ran a red light, braked without reason, and continued driving after reaching the destination.

The first car didn’t even start

During his visit to Texas, Jeremy Clarkson ordered two Tesla robotaxis. He described his experience in a column for The Sunday Times. According to him, the first vehicle stopped behind a corner from the pickup point and remained stationary. Yet the in-car assistant claimed the car was already moving.

A Tesla representative reportedly advised him to cancel the order and call for a replacement vehicle after he contacted support. That vehicle did arrive, but the famous host’s satisfaction didn’t last long.

Cybercab, in his view, ran a red light

The second vehicle drove normally at first. Then, according to Clarkson, it ran a red light and braked suddenly in front of obstacles it couldn’t see on the road.

The moderator said he had about ten minutes of real concern. The Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, so he couldn’t take control as a passenger.

The ride didn’t end where he expected. After reaching the destination, the vehicle continued moving, with the explanation that it was looking for a safe place to stop. According to Clarkson, it passed by several locations he considered suitable for getting out.

He liked the appearance of the Cybercab and also appreciated Musk’s courage. However, after this experience, he wrote that if the service were available in London, he would skip taking it.

NHTSA is reviewing Cybercab’s certification

Meanwhile, the Cybercab has become the subject of scrutiny by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On September 4, NHTSA announced that it is investigating based on what data and procedures Tesla used to prove compliance with federal safety regulations for a vehicle without traditional control elements.

The authority intends to assess, among other things, whether Tesla assumed during certification that certain requirements did not apply to its autonomous vehicle. It also reminded that existing regulations remain in force until the planned changes are finalized.

Sources

Original text / Elektrickevozy.cz

The Sunday Times

NHTSA

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