The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided to carry out an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot system in response to 11 crashes.
In an Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) report (PDF) regarding the investigation, the summary explains that the ODI, "has identified eleven crashes in which Tesla models of various configurations have encountered first responder scenes and subsequently struck one or more vehicles involved with those scenes."
The summary goes on to point out that, "Most incidents took place after dark and the crash scenes encountered included scene control measures such as first responder vehicle lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board, and road cones. The involved subject vehicles were all confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control during the approach to the crashes."
The ODI refers to the investigation as a "Preliminary Evaluation" which covers all Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles manufactured between 2014-2021 and the SAE Level 2 ADAS system (Autopilot) system they used. In total, that's thought to be in the region of 765,000 vehicles. Both the technologies and the methods employed by Tesla to "monitor, assist, and enforce the driver's engagement with the dynamic driving task during Autopilot operation" will be assessed by the NHTSA.
It's unclear what the potential consequences are for Tesla depending on the outcome of this investigation. However, it's only a preliminary evaluation, which suggests there could be a list of recommendations on its conclusion, but it could also end up being the first step towards more regulation surrounding these automated driving systems. Tesla has yet to comment, but a tweet posted a few days before the investigation was announced reminded everyone that, "In 2020, a Tesla with Autopilot engaged experienced 0.2 accidents per million miles driven, while the US average was 9x higher."