NHTSA Closes Probe into Tesla's Actually Smart Summon Feature

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its investigation into Tesla's Actually Smart Summon feature, citing low-risk incidents associated with its remote driving function. The probe, which began in January 2025, examined 2.59 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the feature. Despite 159 reported incidents, only a fraction resulted in minor damage.

The NHTSA recently closed its investigation into Tesla's Actually Smart Summon feature, a remote driving function that allows low-speed vehicle movement in parking areas using a smartphone app . Initial reports of crashes and incidents in January 2025 prompted the agency to launch a probe of the feature, which affects 2.59 million Tesla vehicles . However, data from Tesla's investigation showed that only a fraction of these incidents resulted in minor incidents, with no associated injuries .

Tesla has made software updates to address potential issues, and the NHTSA concluded that the risk associated with the feature was low enough to warrant closure of the investigation . The development is a win for Tesla, which has faced regulatory scrutiny over its semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The closure of the investigation highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between regulatory oversight and industry innovation.

The ruling carries broader implications for TSLA's autonomous driving strategy. Tesla's FSD (Full Self-Driving) suite continues to face regulatory review across multiple features, and the Summon probe closure provides a positive precedent for how the company navigates NHTSA oversight. Investor sentiment around Tesla's autonomous technology pipeline has been increasingly tied to its regulatory track record, making this closure a meaningful signal — even if a modest one — for the stock's long-term autonomous premium.