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Tesla Faces NHTSA Probe on Autopilot Technology
Tesla, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, is under scrutiny by U.S. auto safety regulators following a new investigation into its Autopilot driver assistance technology. This inquiry comes at a pivotal moment as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closes a separate investigation, shedding light on the safety concerns surrounding self-driving cars in today’s automotive landscape.
NHTSA’s Investigation
The NHTSA announced its plans to delve deeper into Tesla’s recent recall of over 2 million electric vehicles, representing a significant portion of Tesla’s fleet on U.S. roads, initiated in December. Highlighting apprehensions regarding Tesla’s software patch, the NHTSA cited instances in which vehicles with the fix were involved in “crash events,” as well as the agency’s own preliminary testing results. The new probe arises as the NHTSA concludes a nearly three-year examination of Autopilot, encompassing an analysis of 956 crashes. In approximately 467 of these incidents, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) determined that Tesla’s software failed to adequately enforce driver attention, resulting in preventable accidents and foreseeable misuse, as outlined by regulators.
Notably, at least 13 crashes scrutinized by the NHTSA resulted in one or more fatalities and numerous severe injuries, with “foreseeable driver misuse” identified as a contributing factor. Despite Tesla implementing software updates to address these concerns, regulatory unease persists over the opt-in requirement and reversible nature of the proposed remedy, prompting the initiation of a fresh recall investigation targeting model year 2012-2024 Model Y, X, S, 3, and Cybertruck EVs equipped with Autopilot.
Repercussions and Criticisms
Consumer Reports raised objections to Tesla’s recall efforts, emphasizing that while warnings and driver alerts were more conspicuous post-recall, they may inadvertently divert drivers’ focus from the road. The nonprofit’s evaluation further exposed gaps in Tesla’s monitoring system, noting instances where drivers could potentially misuse Autopilot without receiving sufficient warnings or limitations. Moreover, Tesla’s driver assistance programs recently failed tests conducted by a prominent auto safety organization, casting a shadow over the company’s marketing assertions and CEO’s endorsements that downplay the necessity for drivers to remain fully vigilant while engaged with the technology.
Elon Musk’s Tesla has been confronted with accusations of misleading advertising practices by California’s Department of Motor Vehicles and faced investigations by the state attorney general’s office over its promotional tactics. The U.S. Department of Justice has also taken an interest in examining Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, signaling broader legal scrutiny for the automaker.
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