Tesla probe ushers in get-tough era at US auto-safety watchdog

Since Biden was inaugurated in January, NHTSA has stepped up its pace of investigations into Tesla crashes. Nine probes into Tesla crashes have been opened since March, the most recent occurred in San Diego last month. — Dreamstime/TNS

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation into a possible defect involving Tesla Inc’s Autopilot signals a more activist approach by the Biden administration to regulating technology that’s crucial to the auto industry’s future.

NHTSA, which announced the Tesla examination Monday, opened 26 probes into various auto-safety issues so far this year – more than in all of 2020 or 2019, according to its website. The agency is on pace to launch about 66% more investigations than the 25 it began last year.