- Feds are investigating whether or not Tesla’s 2023 Autopilot recall labored.
- In December, Tesla recalled 2 million Autopilot-equipped automobiles with a software program replace.
- One other report on points previous to the recall discovered Autopilot was linked to a whole bunch of crashes.
Tesla recalled greater than 2 million automobiles final 12 months over crashes involving its Autopilot program.
However did the recall work? Crashes stored occurring, the feds say, and now they’re investigating.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) stated Friday it is opening up a recent probe over the “crash occasions.”
A further report was additionally launched Friday by the regulator providing up extra particulars into points investigated previous to the recall. Within the report, the NHTSA stated it investigated 956 Tesla crashes between January 2018 and August 2023, the place Autopilot was concerned — 29 of which resulted in fatalities.
Tesla recalled the automobiles final 12 months to repair Autopilot with an over-the-air software program replace after regulators stated the driver-assist tech wasn’t doing sufficient to cease driver misuse.
As a part of its new investigation, the NHTSA will use assessments of the recalled automobiles and look into why Tesla’s repair made house owners opt-in, making it one thing that may very well be “readily reversed.”
Tesla additionally despatched later updates to Autopilot that weren’t part of the recall, the NHTSA stated.
“This investigation will think about why these updates weren’t part of the recall,” the company wrote.
Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.
The EV model has been combating flagging gross sales and reported burning by way of money in its newest earnings report. Nonetheless, the inventory soared after CEO Elon Musk made massive guarantees about two new merchandise: extra reasonably priced vehicles and the corporate’s foray into self-driving robo-taxis.
It is not clear how regulators will react to Tesla’s fleet of ride-hailing automobiles when — or if — they arrive.
