--- title: "Tesla Robotaxi Service Approved in Arizona Without In-Car Safety Monitors Despite Crashes: TDS" date: "2025-11-19" modified: "2025-11-19" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-robotaxi-service-approved-in-arizona-without-in-car-safety-monitors-despite-crashes-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Tesla Robotaxi Service Approved in Arizona Without In-Car Safety Monitors Despite Crashes: TDS ![Tesla Model Y Robotaxi]() *\Tesla\* Good morning and welcome to *The Downshift*, or *TDS* for short. Light, tight, and right, *TDS* gathers the latest automotive news from around the globe and puts it in one place. Stories are summarized in a single, sometimes long, sentence accompanied by a link for for those seeking more information. 🚨 Just a reminder I’m in Los Angeles this week for 2026 World Car of the Year testing, the 2025 LA auto show, and some time with Volvo. This is why *TDS* is being published a smidge later than our normal schedule today and likely the rest of the week. The first cup of coffee is gone and a second is desperately needed, so let's get into it. 🚘 What I’m driving: Still rolling around LA in the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, but spent yesterday driving a bunch of 2026 World Car of the Year nominees including the Kia EV5, Audi S6 E-Tron, Chevrolet Spark EUV, and more. πŸš• Tesla [received a ride-hailing permit](), the final step before being able to launch its supposed "self-driving" robotaxi service, in Arizona despite the fact the service has had seven crashes since launching in Austin in July, somehow, even though there's a human in-car safety monitor sitting with a kill switch. πŸ€– Waymo announced its self-driving taxi service is [expanding to five more cities]() including Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando. 🚐 The Volkswagen ID Buzz was [named a Top Safety Pick]() by the IIHS. πŸŒƒ Lincoln l[aunched a new Aurora Black Label Theme](), which is said to be inspired by "the majestic night sky." πŸš™ The [2026 Honda Pilot debuted]() with a tweaked face and larger screens. πŸ”Œ Stellantis said its EVs will [gain Tesla Supercharger access]() in 2026. ‼️ Honda [recalled 256,603 Accord Hybrids]() due to an issue with their Integrated Control Module (ICM) software, which may result in the car losing power to the wheels while driving. *Have feedback on the formatting of TDS? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()