What We’re Reading
Tesla issues massive recall of more than 2 million vehicles over autopilot safety concerns (NBC News, December 13, 2023)
Tesla is recalling over 2 million of its Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles after a NHTSA investigation has found that Autosteer was “not sufficient to prevent driver misuse.” Autosteer is Tesla’s traffic-aware cruise control system that allows the driver to maintain a set speed or following distance. The system requires that the driver’s hands remain on the steering wheel when using the system.
“In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature’s controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse,” the recall report states. While Tesla does not agree with NHTSA’s analysis of the issue, the carmaker has agreed to administer a free software update to vehicles equipped with Autosteer.
The AV industry sends an SOS to Pete Buttigieg (The Verge, December 11, 2023)
In the wake of scathing coverage stemming from numerous recent incidents involving AVs, a coalition of lobbying groups for the driverless car industry recently sent a letter to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg imploring him to support domestic AV efforts in the highly competitive race with Chinese technology companies to roll out commercially viable autonomous technology. Signatories included the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, which represents Cruise, Waymo, Zoox, Motional, and others, as well as the US Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which lobbies for the auto industry.
“The Department’s support for AV development is crucial to maintain our nation’s competitive edge and secure our position as a global leader,” the groups write. “The U.S. stands at a critical juncture in the AV race, with countries like China aggressively investing and advancing the technology.” Although regulators may be reluctant to embrace the AV industry at a time when public opinion toward self-driving cars seems to be souring, the threat of Chinese competition and possible dominance in the sector may be enough to turn the tide.
Tesla’s response to the DMV’s false-advertising allegations: What took so long? (Los Angeles Times, December 11, 2023)
Tesla’s highly anticipated response to The California DMV’s Nov. 20 accusation that the automaker misled customers with false statements about the technical capabilities of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving contained a somewhat novel legal defense. In a response filed in a state administrative court Friday, Tesla maintains that the DMV disregarded its use of the term “Full Self-Driving” for so long that it should be allowed to continue using it. The company “relied upon [the DMV’s] implicit approval of these brand names” and “the DMV chose not to take any action against Tesla or otherwise communicate to Tesla that its advertising or use of these brand names was or might be problematic.” Tesla also claims that the DMV’s false advertising rules on autonomous vehicles “impermissibly restrict constitutionally protected speech that is truthful and nonmisleading.”
The effectiveness of Tesla’s legal defense likely will be of dire importance to the automaker. Should the DMV prevail, its legal motion says, Tesla’s California manufacturer’s license will be subject to revocation, and the company may be required to pay millions in restitution to “persons or institutions who have suffered financial loss or damage.”