Tesla Model Y is first car to meet new U.S. driver assistance safety benchmark

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. Buy one Disrupt pass, and get the second at 50% off. Ends May 8. Register now. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo LatestStartupsVentureAppleSecurityAIApps EventsPodcastsNewsletters SearchSubmit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday that the later release 2026 Tesla Model Y is the first vehicle to meet the agency’s new benchmark for advanced driver assistance systems. Four pass-fail tests were added to the agency’s safety ratings program, assessing a car’s automatic emergency braking for pedestrians, blind spot warning, blind spot intervention, and lane assist, a feature that helps keep the vehicle in the lane. The updated criteria are meant to catch up to ever-advancing vehicles and the long list of features pitched to consumers. Automakers typically brand these features with names that don’t always describe what tasks they perform, and there’s often no government-provided benchmark to assesses how they perform. The new benchmark rating applies to 2026 Tesla Model Y vehicles assembled on or after November 12, 2025. The tests are part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, which runs the government’s 5-Star safety rating program. NCAP also conducts a battery of tests to determine how vehicles handle frontal and side crashes as well as rollover resistance, and crash avoidance. The four advanced driver assistance criteria were added in 2024 as part of an update to NCAP to include advanced driver assistance features. TechCrunch has reached out to NHTSA to learn what other vehicles are in the queue. We will update the article if the agency responds. Techcrunch event This Week Only: Buy one pass, get the second at 50% off Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register before May 8 to bring a +1 at half the cost. This Week Only: Buy one pass, get the second at 50% off Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register before May 8 to bring a +1 at half the cost. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW Topics StrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone. Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. Tesla Model Y is first car to meet new U.S. driver assistance safety benchmark Kirsten Korosec 13 seconds ago Transportation Jeff Bezos rep leaves Slate Auto’s board Sean O'Kane 2 hours ago Transportation Aurora’s Chris Urmson on why self-driving trucks are finally ready to scale Rebecca Bellan Theresa Loconsolo 6 hours ago X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram youTube Mastodon Threads Bluesky TechCrunchStaffContact UsAdvertiseCrunchboard JobsSite Map Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyRSS Terms of UseCode of Conduct AnthropicSAPSamsungMarc LoreTechCrunch DisruptTech LayoffsChatGPT © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC.