Avride robot cab accident is under investigation in the USA. Nebius and Uber invested in the startup

A US regulator has launched an investigation into a series of accidents involving the unmanned cars of startup Avride after reports of risky maneuvers and collisions, Reuters reports. Last year, Nebius Group, which is headed by Yandex co-founder Arkady Volozh, together with Uber announced an investment of $375 million in the company, with Avride being part of Nebius Group.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Ma 8 that it was looking into 16 incidents involving Avride's self-driving cars, Reuters quoted a statement as saying. Some of the startup's robotaxis are available for booking on the Uber app and have been transporting passengers in Dallas, Texas, since December, the regulator noted.

According to the NHTSA, Avride vehicles crashed into other vehicles while changing lanes and were unable to avoid obstacles and other traffic on the road, resulting in accidents. Some of the incidents resulted in property damage, and in one case, the victim suffered a minor injury.

The cars' behavior may indicate "overconfidence" and insufficient system capabilities, potentially violating highway safety requirements, NHTSA said. It has opened several investigations into unmanned vehicles and driver assistance systems in recent years amid a rise in the number of incidents involving autonomous vehicles, Reuters notes.

Avride is willing to cooperate with the regulator and disclose details of its safety protocols, the company's press office told Reuters. Separately, the robotaxi operator emphasized that a trained operator was in the vehicle in all cases, most of the incidents occurred at low speeds, and many of them were provoked by other road users. Based on the results of each case, the company has already taken additional technical and operational measures.

In October 2025, AI company Nebius Group, led by Yandex co-founder Arkady Volozh, along with Uber, announced an investment of up to $375 million in Avride. The investment will build on the commercial partnership between Avride and Uber, which began in 2024 with the signing of a multi-year strategic agreement, Nebius Group noted. Avride is one of the businesses that is part of Nebius Group but operates under its own brand.

Shares of Nebius Group were down about 4% to $177.2 in trading on May 8. However, compared to the beginning of 2026, the securities are now 112% more expensive. Most analysts tracking the stock recommend buying it: the securities have 12 Buy and Overweight ratings versus four Hold and one Sell, MarketWatch shows. The average target price of $176.85 is slightly inferior to current quotes.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor