Last updated on February 9th, 2026 at 09:24 pm
Tesla settles another wrongful death lawsuit that has big implications
FRED LAMBERT 4-21-2025
Tesla’s recent settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit holds considerable implications, challenging its policy of not settling unless at fault. This approach, as stated by Elon Musk, means settling indicates an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, even without explicit admission. Historically, Tesla rarely settled cases, with Musk in 2022 emphasizing aggressive legal strategies. Despite this, Tesla settled a UK case last year involving false full self-driving claims and a wrongful death lawsuit for Walter Huang. Now, Tesla has settled another wrongful death case concerning Clyde Leach, whose Model Y allegedly experienced “sudden acceleration.” Although Tesla asserts driver error in these cases, the settlement
indicates potential fault and could influence future lawsuits against the company. The settlement terms remain undisclosed, leaving broader implications for Tesla’s legal challenges.
Elon Musk’s robotaxi fantasy is starting to unravel
ANDREW J. HAWKINS 4-23-2025
Elon Musk has once again made a familiar promise: that millions of autonomous Teslas will be on the road by the end of next year. It’s a claim he’s made before – and one that has yet to materialize. Musk himself has acknowledged the repeated delays, referring to himself as “the boy who cried FSD.”
Despite past setbacks, Musk says is Tesla is forging ahead with the launch of the “unsupervised” robotaxis in Austin as early as June of this year. The planned Tesla ridehailing service will reportedly use Model Y vehicles, supported by remote operators for emergencies.
“Teslas are…probably costing a quarter or 20 percent of what a Waymo costs and made in very high volume,” Musk stated. “So, you know, ironically, we’re the ones that made the bet that a pure AI solution with cameras… is the right move.”
Volkswagen is putting AI-powered driver assistance into its Chinese EVs
CAT DOW 4-17-2025
VW is enhancing its autonomous driving technology in China with a new AI-based driver assistance system, supported by a self-developed chipset for upcoming electric cars. Carizon, a partnership between Horizon Robotics and VW’s Cariad, has created the ‘Gaia’ platform, which processes data much faster than traditional systems.
Having tested over 62,000 miles, this AI allows vehicles to handle complex traffic like humans. The system will be included in VW and Audi electric vehicles in China starting next year. Carizon aims for Level 2++ autonomous driving, which will be further developed toward Level 3 by 2026.
Tesla Odometers Could Be Overestimating Mileage By As Much As 117%: Lawsuit
ERIN MARQUIS 4-15-2025
A Tesla owner in Northern California has filed a lawsuit against the carmaker, alleging that its vehicles may be overestimating mileage – potentially leading to premature warranty expirations. The plaintiff, Nyree Hinton, claims that his Tesla logged over 13,000 miles, despite only driving 6,086 miles.
The lawsuit points to a patented Tesla system called the “miles-to-electrical energy conversation factor,” which calculates mileage using variables like road conditions and charging behavior, rather than distance traveled. The suit suggests this algorithm could inflate mileage by anywhere from 15% to 117%. If the case proceeds to trial, discovery could reveal how Tesla tracks vehicle usage – and whether the practice is costing drivers valuable warranty coverage.
Navigating the future: Creating a compensation framework for autonomous vehicle incidents
MARTIN TOTARO and CONNOR RASO 4-17-2025
The advent of AVs holds enormous potential for improving road safety, reducing emissions, and enhancing mobility, especially for those unable to drive. However, significant liability and regulatory challenges could impede their development and adoption. Establishing a victim compensation fund, as seen in cases like the September 11 attacks and the Deepwater Horizon spill, could mitigate these issues by providing an alternative to the tort system for compensating victims of AV accidents, thus smoothing the transition to driverless technology. Such a fund could encourage industry investment by reducing liability fears while ensuring compensation for victims. Key considerations include fund administration, regulatory alignment, funding mechanisms, and participation criteria. By addressing these challenges proactively, policymakers can foster AV innovation while safeguarding those affected by accidents, ultimately helping to unlock the full potential of this transformative technology.
China cracks down on automated driving features after Tesla’s FSD launch
FRED LAMBERT 4-17-2025
Tesla launched its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) package in China, but shortly after, the Chinese government imposed new limitations on automated driving features. This followed Tesla’s introduction of the FSD for its latest “Hardware 4. 0” vehicles. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) highlighted the need for car manufacturers to understand and adhere to updated requirements, emphasizing safety and accurate product information. Car companies were advised to avoid misleading terms like “self-driving” and instead use “combined assisted driving. ” Tesla renamed its FSD to “Intelligent Assisted Driving” in response.
