- Written by Tom Gerken & Chris Vallance
- technology reporter
Tesla is recalling more than 2 million cars after U.S. regulators found some defects in its Autopilot driver assistance system.
The recall applies to nearly all Teslas sold in the U.S. since the Autopilot feature was introduced in 2015.
Tesla, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced it would send out a software update “over the air” to resolve the issue.
Although the update is automatic and does not require a trip to the dealership or repair shop, U.S. regulators still refer to it as a recall.
The BBC contacted the British Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to ask how Tesla drivers in the UK will be affected.
Autopilot is meant to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking, but despite its name, the car still requires driver input.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the recall was due to a problem with Autopilot’s driver monitoring system, which detects whether a driver is paying attention.
NHTSA investigated 956 crashes in which Autopilot was initially identified as part of what it called an “extensive” two-year investigation.
That investigation culminated in the latest recall, with Tesla admitting that the system’s controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.”
“Automated technology holds great promise for improving safety, but only when deployed responsibly,” NHTSA said, adding that it will continue to monitor software as it is updated.
“I don’t think the hardware is ready and the software is ready,” Lukasz Krubski told the BBC after winning the Blueprint Award, which recognizes whistleblowers.
“It affects us all because we are essentially an experiment on the road,” he argued.
Following news of the recall, Krupski told the BBC that it was a “step in the right direction”, but noted that this was not just a US issue.
“All Tesla hardware in the US, China, etc. is the same,” he said.
Tesla has not previously responded to the BBC’s requests for comment, but on Tuesday the company defended the safety of Autopilot. In the post of X (Formerly Twitter) Reply to the Washington Post article.
“When Autopilot is engaged, safety metrics are significantly enhanced compared to when it is not engaged,” the report said, citing statistics that suggest there are fewer crashes when using the system. It pointed out.
Jack Stilgoe, an associate professor at University College London who studies self-driving cars, said Tesla should have spent more time developing the system from the beginning.
“The traditional way to ensure safety is to make sure the car is safe when it leaves the factory,” he told the BBC.
But despite this being the second recall affecting Tesla cars this year, Susannah Streeter of investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown said it shouldn’t hinder the automaker’s momentum too much. I gave my evaluation.
“This 2 million car recall alone is unlikely to dampen enthusiasm much. Stocks have fallen a bit, but we don’t see a major slide.
“After all, recalls in the auto industry are nothing new, and this group also has the financial ability to invest in fixes,” she added.
Additional alerts
The recall focuses on a part of Autopilot called Autosteer.
Autosteer works with “traffic-aware cruise control” to match your car’s speed to the speed of surrounding traffic to help keep your car in the correct lane.
The driver is expected to be behind the wheel and ready to take over the assistance systems if necessary.
When Autosteer is on, your car’s systems monitor whether you’re paying attention. If it detects the absence of a driver, a warning alert will appear. A warning will also appear if the driver attempts to use Autosteer in inappropriate situations.
According to a recall document filed by Tesla with NHTSA, the “over-the-air update” includes additional warnings and monitoring that “remind drivers of ongoing driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged.”
