Tesla is recalling more than two million cars in the United States after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found a partial defect in its Autopilot driver assistance system.
The recall, affecting nearly every Tesla sold in the US since the launch of Autopilot in 2015, stems from a two-year investigation into crashes occurring while Autopilot was in use.
The company plans to address the issue through a software update delivered “over the air,” eliminating the need for customers to visit a dealership or garage.
Despite the update’s automatic nature, the NHTSA still classifies it as a recall.
Autopilot, designed to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking, requires driver input despite its name.
The NHTSA identified the flaw in Autopilot’s driver monitoring system, responsible for detecting the driver’s attention, including whether their hands are on the wheel.
Tesla, as a result of the NHTSA investigation, acknowledged the system’s controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”
The regulatory body emphasized the importance of responsible deployment of automated technology for safety.
This development follows recent criticism from a former Tesla employee, Lukasz Krupski, who expressed concerns about the technology’s safety, stating that he believes neither the hardware nor the software is ready.
Krupski described users as “essentially experiments on public roads.”
Tesla defended the safety of Autopilot in a response to a Washington Post article, asserting that safety metrics are significantly stronger when Autopilot is engaged.
The company cited statistics suggesting fewer crashes when the system was in use and emphasized the overall safety benefits of automation technology.
This marks the second recall affecting Tesla vehicles this year.
President Ruto Ready To Face Consequences Of Privatising 350 State Companies
