Tesla introduced an Auto Pilot system in its vehicles in late 2015, a suite of advanced driver assistance features that amount to Level 2 vehicle automation. The system was considered a revolution in terms of driving experience as it uses cameras and other AI sensors to brake, drive, slow down, speed up, and more with a little input from the drivers. But as they say, every advancement comes with its own flaws. It seems like the same is true with Tesla’s Autopilot system which has now landed in deep trouble with the federal authorities of the USA.
The chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have confirmed that they are taking the investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot function ahead. The inquiry began last year when almost a dozen complaints were received about the company’s cars crashing into parked first-responder vehicles in 4 years.
While earlier, it was a case of the preliminary inquiry, now it will be escalated to engineering analysis, post which action will be taken against Tesla. It began when in 2016 when an Ohio man was killed when his Model S crashed into a tractor on a highway in Florida while autopilot was activated, things became serious.
The investigation covers 4 Tesla Models of cars- Y, X, S, and 3 models which have sold around 830,000 vehicles in the USA. The autopilot system when introduced, claimed that it will help the drivers move on roads through AI and detect other vehicles, reducing the chances of any kind of untoward accidents. But the opposite has happened, as there have been numerous car crashes due to autopilot mode not working how it was promised.
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Tesla has always advised the drivers of its cars to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the steering, even while using autopilot but it seems even that is not working. Reports claim that in most of the crashes, drivers involved did have their hands on the steering wheel and were following all the guidelines that were laid down by Tesla. Even then those crashes took place gravely injuring people. Around 35 crashes have taken place between 2016 and January 2022, the result of which has been 14 deaths and many fatal injuries.
The NHTSA now wants to look into the fact if the Autopilot mode senses the effectiveness of driver’s supervision or is it faulty otherwise. Tesla has not given any statement on the matter as of now, whereas the FTC Chain Lina Khan has confirmed that a probe is very much on the agency’s mind.
This investigation can lead to a lawsuit against Tesla wherein it will be asked to redefine its autopilot capabilities which will tarnish the brand’s reputation. The Governer’s Highway Safety Association believes that the autopilot system should at least be renamed considering the fact that it doesn’t serve its defined purpose appropriately. “Those names confuse people into thinking they can do more than they are actually capable of.”
This is not all, as Tesla’s braking system is also under scrutiny. There have been complaints about Tesla’s vehicles braking suddenly at very high speeds. This is known as ‘phantom braking’ and can lead to accidents, injuries, and even concussions at times. The Guardian claims that there have been around 750 complaints against these braking issues with the NHTSA. The agency has asked Elon Musk’s company to explain its stand about the entire issue.
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For now, the NHTSA aims to complete its inquiry within a year and if the results are found against Tesla’s system, then it will be forced to rectify the problem or rename/redefine its autopilot system.
For those unaware, Tesla is an American automotive and clean energy company based in Austin which manufactures EVs, solar panels, and more. It is owned by Elon Musk who was recently in the news for his acquisition of social media website Twitter.
