Uber partner Avride is under investigation for self-driving crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Avride, a robotaxi company partnered with Uber, following 16 crashes tied to its self-driving technology. The crashes, occurring between December 2025 and March 2026, involved issues like lane changes, responses to other vehicles, and stationary objects, with one resulting in a minor injury. All incidents took place while safety monitors were present in the vehicles, though Avride did not address why they did not intervene. Avride, a subsidiary of Nebius (formerly Yandex NV), reported the crashes to NHTSA as required by the agency’s 2021 guidelines. The company stated it had implemented technical and operational fixes, noting a decline in incident frequency relative to mileage despite ongoing operational growth. Uber has not yet commented on the investigation. The probe follows Uber’s 2025 launch of Avride’s robotaxi service in Dallas, Texas, where most crashes occurred, along with some in Austin. At least one incident involved a passenger. The investigation comes as autonomous vehicle testing and deployment expand across the U.S., drawing increased regulatory scrutiny. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation reviewed videos of the crashes, which reportedly showed failures in the self-driving system’s competence. The probe parallels ongoing investigations into Waymo, including allegations of illegal behavior around school buses and a January crash involving a child in Santa Monica. Avride, known for its sidewalk delivery robots, has been developing self-driving cars since 2024, with Uber and Nebius committing up to $375 million in strategic investments the following year. The company’s expansion coincides with broader industry challenges in ensuring autonomous vehicle safety.