So it seems as part of doge, Musk has sacked most of the safety checking team for self drive cars at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agency. Which is funny because he is leading the push for launching self drive cars…
In February, Elon’s Musketeers at President Trump’s cost-trimming DOGE operation turned up at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates the kinds of self-driving cars the billionaire wants to build.
DOGE promptly culled four percent of the federal watchdog’s staff.
The transport safety agency, NHTSA, issued no fewer than 50 recall notices for the Tesla tycoon’s cars between 2021 and 2024. Some described simple issues Tesla could fix with an over-the-air software update. Others, such as bodywork falling off Cybertrucks, required a physical recall.
NHTSA and Tesla have also beefed over the automaker’s "full self-driving " mode for its vehicles, which critics say is nothing of the sort.
It’s now been reported that the sackings at NHTSA disproportionately targeted staff whose jobs involved regulating self-driving cars, and even some senior Tesla staff think that was a bad idea.
“Letting DOGE fire those in the autonomous division is sheer madness — we should be lobbying to add people to NHTSA,” one manager at Tesla told the Financial Times.
The watchdog proposed at the end of last year a national framework for testing and overseeing the safety and abilities of autonomous vehicles, like the ones Tesla wants to make and sell and even operate as Waymo-style fleets of driver-less robo-taxis.
The quoted manager said the regulator needs to finish up and publish that framework, giving manufacturers a clear view of the regulatory hurdles they need to clear in the autonomous space, or Tesla “doesn’t have a prayer” for scaling up its self-driving ambitions. Layoffs at NHTSA could set back or water down that framework.
Musk is betting heavily on driver-less cars and taxis: In October 2024 he unveiled a mock-up of a Cybercab, and promised it would be on the road by 2027. Now the world’s richest man, who oversees the White House’s DOGE unit that has been pushing cut-backs across the federal government, has the whip hand over the agency that can grant permission for his robo-cabs to hit the road.
Recalls 2024
Ford — 1,515 recalls.
1,668 total recalls is General Motors
Mercedes-Benz — 470 recalls.
Volkswagen — 558 recalls
BMW: 36 recalls
Chrysler — 1,427 recalls.
Nissan — 425 recalls.
Tesla 50 over a 4 year period
High Recall Count:
Zutobi reports that Toyota, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have issued a high number of recalls in the UK.
Recent Recalls:
In 2024, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, and Audi were among the car brands with the most recalls
The luxury cars produced in the UK do not fall into either list. Manufacture needs to produce more than 10,000 vehicles. Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls Royce all have recalls.
The point was that he is sacking those in the team that checks the safety of his driverless cars. Total conflict of interest. Also not in the public interest.
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) monitors the safety of self-driving vehicles through regulations and testing, it’s not a universally tracked system where all self-driving cars are constantly monitored by the government. States are also developing their own regulations and testing procedures for self-driving cars, with some requiring reporting of accidents and disengagements. The level of government involvement and monitoring varies significantly.
here in the UK cars when 3 years old have to go through a strict Ministry of transport (MOT) check. This covers not only mechanical but also car body. Every thing from lights - setbelts- door security-co2 emissions- brakes - seat fastening - body damage- window screens (visibility) - tyres (tread wear and depth of tread)- number plate Inspection to see it has all the details as well as correct plate. Failure one just one thing and the car is not allowed on the road until the fault is fixed. for example show plates not allowed- wrong spacing between letters and numbers- correct size of same.
What we do is each year is have this check at the same time after a service. That way anthing that needs doing get put right first to ensure it passes the MOT
Robin
out of interest what are the compulsoy USA government checks on cars in America, and how old does the car have to before the checks are carried out.
Every commercial motor vehicle must be inspected every 12 months by a qualified inspector who has training or certification to inspect and maintain commercial motor vehicles. The term commercial motor vehicle includes each vehicle in a combination vehicle. For example, for a tractor semitrailer, full trailer combination, the tractor, semitrailer, and the full trailer (including the converter dolly if so equipped) must each be inspected.
A motor carrier must not use a commercial motor vehicle unless each component identified in Appendix G of 396 subchapter B has passed an inspection at least once during the preceding 12 months, and documentation of such inspection is on the vehicle. Your specific State may have additional requirements regarding vehicle inspections. Please check with your respective State for additional inspection requirements.
Hello…
I have seen a quite handful of your comment on my here about me, so I decided to send a reply to you to appreciate those people whose comments and good wishes encourages me and I hope to bring you guys more…
Thanks a lot, I feel so honored
But while he is here …
Hey Musk, care to dip your hand into your own pockets to address at least some of the catastrophically bad impact your DOGE cuts have had? The list of shocking consequences is long, the list of court cases due to wrongful dismissal is long - it goes on and on. Its very likely that the cost to the US taxpayer will end up higher than any pretend benefit. And its your fault - so cough up.
