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Tesla Autopilot

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27 Jan, 2023

SEC probes Musk Tesla self-driving claims

Opens investigation0 Comments

US regulators are investigating Elon Musk’s role as part of an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission probe of the company’s statements about its Autopilot driver-assistance system. SEC officials are weighing whether Musk may have inappropriately made forward-looking statements, although which statements have not been revealed.

An investigation by the agency’s enforcement unit doesn’t always lead to consequences, but can result in lawsuits, fines or other civil penalties for companies and executives.

21 Apr, 2023

Tesla wins Autopilot crash case

Judgement0 Comments

After a three-week trial in the Los Angeles Superior Court, a California jury rules in Tesla’s favor in a lawsuit over a crash involving the company’s partially automated driving software. The jury finds that the company’s Autopilot feature did not fail when plaintiff Justine Hsu’s Model S swerved into a curb while the feature was turned on. The jury also found that the vehicle’s airbag performed safely and Tesla did not intentionally fail to disclose facts. Hsu, who had sought more than $3 million in damages, and was awarded none, broke down in tears outside the courtroom after the jury delivered its verdict. One of her attorneys expressed disappointment with the result. Tesla’s attorney declined to comment.

10 Jun, 2023

Report: Autopilot involved in 17 fatalities, 736 crashes

Safety report2 Comments

According to NHTSA reports, Tesla’s Autopilot self-driving software was involved in 17 fatalities and 736 crashes. NHTSA began collecting the data after a federal order in 2021 required automakers to disclose crashes involving driver-assistance technology. NHTSA says a report of a crash involving driver-assistance does not itself imply that the technology was the cause. It is also unclear if the NHTSA’s data covers every driver assisted crash. Of the 17 fatal crashes, four involved motorcycles. NHTSA has received more than a dozen reports of Teslas running into parked emergency vehicles while in Autopilot

The increase in crashes coincides with Tesla’s rollout of Full Self-Driving, which has expanded from around 12,000 users to nearly 400,000 in just over a year. Nearly two-thirds of all driver-assistance crashes that Tesla has reported to NHTSA occurred in the past year. Tesla clams that, when comparing miles driven per collision, Full Self-Driving crashes at a rate at least five times lower than vehicles in normal driving. However, this figure is uncorroborated by external agencies. NHTSA:

NHTSA has an active investigation into Tesla Autopilot, including Full-Self Driving. NHTSA reminds the public that all advanced driver assistance systems require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times. Accordingly, all state laws hold the human driver responsible for the operation of their vehicles.