What We’re Reading
11 more crash deaths are linked to automated-tech vehicles (Los Angeles Times, October 18, 2022)
NHTSA has released a second set of data reported to it pursuant to its Standing General Order on Crash Reporting, which requires automakers and operators to report details of crashes involving Level 2 or more advanced automated driving features.
The latest data is from crashes reported between May and September 2022, including eleven fatal crashes. Ten of those fatalities involved Teslas, “although it is unclear from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data whether the technology itself was at fault or whether driver error might have been responsible.” The eleventh fatality was reported by Ford, but the OEM later determined that no ADAS systems were engaged at the time of the crash.
As the author points out, “Tesla’s crash number may appear elevated because it uses telematics to monitor its vehicles and obtain real-time crash reports. Other automakers lack such capability, so their crash reports may emerge more slowly or may not be reported at all.” Elon Musk reportedly told audience members at Tesla’s AI day in September that Tesla’s “systems were safer than human drivers,” claiming a “moral obligation to deploy” automated technology even if it invites litigation. Safety advocates, on the other hand, are “baffled” by NHTSA’s ongoing investigation and “lack of action” to address Autopilot and other ADAS-related safety concerns, particularly in the face of the NTSB’s recommendations to limit Autopilot’s use.
Tesla cars will not be approved as fully self driving this year, Musk says (Reuters, October 20, 2022)
Despite his statements at Tesla’s AI day, Elon Musk has been forced to concede that Tesla will not receive regulatory approval for fully autonomous technology in 2022. Experts have suggested this concession may reflect the increasing scrutiny of Tesla by federal and state agencies, including NHTSA and the California DMV. Others speculate that the concession relates more to deficiencies in the technology, as “Tesla has repeatedly missed self-imposed targets for its vehicles to achieve full self-driving capability.”
Musk still expects Tesla to release upgrades to FSD before the end of the year that he claims would enable drivers to operate their vehicles with little need to touch the steering wheel.
Tesla is working on next-gen electric car platform for half the price (Electrek, October 20, 2022)
Tesla has been promising a cheaper EV for years, but those plans have been derailed by inflation, demand, and side projects like the Optimus robot. Following the release of Tesla’s Q3 results, though, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla remains committed to cheaper EVs and has shifted resources toward production. In sum, “it sounds like a smaller Tesla vehicle platform that will enable electric cars between $25,000 and $35,000 is in development.”