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Tesla failed to prevent misuse of autopilot system, safety expert testifies
Tesla failed to prevent misuse of autopilot system, safety expert testifies

Business Standard

time2 hours ago

  • Automotive
  • Business Standard

Tesla failed to prevent misuse of autopilot system, safety expert testifies

Tesla Inc. hasn't done enough to protect against drivers misusing its Autopilot system, a safety expert testified at a trial over a 2019 fatal collision. Mary 'Missy' Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University, told jurors in Miami federal court that the Tesla owner's manual, which contains critical warnings about how the system works, is difficult for drivers to access. 'Do you have any opinion as to why Tesla chose not to geofence its tech in 2019 and create a safe operational domain when other manufacturers were?' Cummings was asked by a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Brett Schreiber. 'I believe they were using that as a way to sell more cars,' said Cummings, who previously served as a senior adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A Tesla representative declined to comment on Cummings' testimony. She is expected to return to the witness stand Thursday when lawyers for Tesla will have a chance to question her. The trial, which began Monday and is expected to take three weeks, is among the first to test Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's claims that his cars are the safest ever made. It comes at a critical juncture for Tesla, which is making a big push to roll out a robotaxi business as the company stakes its future in part on autonomous driving. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed, and Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured when a Tesla Model S went through a T-intersection in Key Largo and off the pavement, striking their parked Chevrolet Tahoe as they were standing next to it. The plaintiffs' lawyers allege that Tesla's driver-assistance system was defective and that the company failed to warn users about its limitations. Tesla maintains that the crash was caused by driver error, a defense the company has successfully used to win two previous California trials when Autopilot was blamed for accidents. George McGee, the driver of the Model S, had engaged the driver-assistance system, but had dropped his mobile phone and wasn't watching the road while reaching for the device on the floorboard. Lawyers for Angulo and the estate of Benavides Leon told the jury that the collision was a 'preventable tragedy' and that the automated system built into the car failed to respond when it detected the end of the roadway, regardless of how McGee was driving. They have repeatedly shown jurors augmented video clips captured by cameras on the car that show the system identifying the edge of the road, paint on the roadway indicating a stop sign, the Tahoe parked off road and a pedestrian standing nearby. But Tesla argues that no technology that was on the market in 2019 would have been able to prevent the crash, and that McGee was fully at fault because he was pressing the accelerator and overriding the vehicle's adaptive cruise control before he went off the road. Cummings was asked by Schreiber about a letter to NHTSA in which Tesla asserted that 'Autopilot has the most robust set of warnings against driver misuses and abuse of any feature ever deployed in the automotive industry.' She told the jury, 'I saw no evidence that would back up this claim that they have the most robust set of warnings.' When Cummings was appointed as a safety adviser for NHTSA in 2021, Musk called her 'extremely biased against Tesla' and Tesla fans signed a petition against her. Cummings has served as an expert witness in at least two other lawsuits against Tesla related to the Autopilot system, according to court filings. The professor said McGee was very clear speaking after the accident that he thought this car was his copilot and that it would stop for obstacles in the road. Like many Tesla drivers, she said, McGee felt he could rely on Autopilot to navigate when he dropped his phone. 'The car is doing a good job of driving so I'm going to reach down and pick it up because my copilot is driving,' she said. The case is Benavides v. Tesla, 1:21-cv-21940, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami).

Tesla failed to stop Autopilot misuse, safety expert testifies
Tesla failed to stop Autopilot misuse, safety expert testifies

Miami Herald

time8 hours ago

  • Automotive
  • Miami Herald

Tesla failed to stop Autopilot misuse, safety expert testifies

Tesla Inc. hasn't done enough to protect against drivers misusing its Autopilot system, a safety expert testified at a trial over a 2019 fatal collision. Mary "Missy" Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University, told jurors in Miami federal court that the Tesla owner's manual, which contains critical warnings about how the system works, is difficult for drivers to access. She also said that prior to the crash, the company was having problems with drivers ignoring computer-generated warnings and had not embraced so-called geo-fencing already in use by other car makers to block drivers from activating driver-assistance functions on roads they're not designed for. "Do you have any opinion as to why Tesla chose not to geofence its tech in 2019 and create a safe operational domain when other manufacturers were?" Cummings was asked by a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Brett Schreiber. "I believe they were using that as a way to sell more cars," said Cummings, who previously served as a senior adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A Tesla representative declined to comment on Cummings' testimony. She is expected to return to the witness stand Thursday when lawyers for Tesla will have a chance to question her. The trial, which began Monday and is expected to take three weeks, is among the first to test Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's claims that his cars are the safest ever made. It comes at a critical juncture for Tesla, which is making a big push to roll out a robotaxi business as the company stakes its future in part on autonomous driving. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed, and Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured when a Tesla Model S went through a T-intersection in Key Largo and off the pavement, striking their parked Chevrolet Tahoe as they were standing next to it. The plaintiffs' lawyers allege that Tesla's driver-assistance system was defective and that the company failed to warn users about its limitations. Tesla maintains that the crash was caused by driver error, a defense the company has successfully used to win two previous California trials when Autopilot was blamed for accidents. George McGee, the driver of the Model S, had engaged the driver-assistance system, but had dropped his mobile phone and wasn't watching the road while reaching for the device on the floorboard. Lawyers for Angulo and the estate of Benavides Leon told the jury that the collision was a "preventable tragedy" and that the automated system built into the car failed to respond when it detected the end of the roadway, regardless of how McGee was driving. They have repeatedly shown jurors augmented video clips captured by cameras on the car that show the system identifying the edge of the road, paint on the roadway indicating a stop sign, the Tahoe parked off road and a pedestrian standing nearby. But Tesla argues that no technology that was on the market in 2019 would have been able to prevent the crash, and that McGee was fully at fault because he was pressing the accelerator and overriding the vehicle's adaptive cruise control before he went off the road. Cummings was asked by Schreiber about a letter to NHTSA in which Tesla asserted that "Autopilot has the most robust set of warnings against driver misuses and abuse of any feature ever deployed in the automotive industry." She told the jury, "I saw no evidence that would back up this claim that they have the most robust set of warnings." When Cummings was appointed as a safety adviser for NHTSA in 2021, Musk called her "extremely biased against Tesla" and Tesla fans signed a petition against her. Cummings has served as an expert witness in at least two other lawsuits against Tesla related to the Autopilot system, according to court filings. The professor said McGee was very clear speaking after the accident that he thought this car was his copilot and that it would stop for obstacles in the road. Like many Tesla drivers, she said, McGee felt he could rely on Autopilot to navigate when he dropped his phone. "The car is doing a good job of driving so I'm going to reach down and pick it up because my copilot is driving," she said. The case is Benavides v. Tesla, 1:21-cv-21940, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami). Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.

Tesla Readies a Six-Seat Version of the Model Y SUV for China
Tesla Readies a Six-Seat Version of the Model Y SUV for China

Bloomberg

time17 hours ago

  • Automotive
  • Bloomberg

Tesla Readies a Six-Seat Version of the Model Y SUV for China

Tesla Inc. is preparing to launch a longer, six-seat version of its Model Y sport utility vehicle in China, where the carmaker has been losing ground to domestic manufacturers with fresher lineups. The new variant of Tesla's top-selling model will be about 150 centimeters (5.9 inches) longer than the existing Model Y, according to figures posted Wednesday on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's website. The filing lists LG New Energy as the battery supplier.

Tesla debuts in India with a whopping $79,000 Model Y variant
Tesla debuts in India with a whopping $79,000 Model Y variant

The Independent

timea day ago

  • Automotive
  • The Independent

Tesla debuts in India with a whopping $79,000 Model Y variant

Tesla Inc. has opened its first showroom in India, marking the vehicle maker's long-anticipated debut in the world's third-biggest automotive market. Located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, an upscale business center in the financial capital of Mumbai, the showroom will serve as Tesla 's flagship retail and experience outlet as the company introduces its EV lineup to Indian customers. Tesla's entry to India comes after years of delays and policy friction, marking a pivotal expansion in a fast-growing consumer base while global sales are plunging and the company faces challenges in its two core markets, China and the US. Tesla launched its Model Y in India as the US automaker, grappling with slowing sales, bets on prospects in a country that company boss Elon Musk has long criticised for its high import tariffs. Tesla has begun accepting orders for its Model Y on the company website. For India, Tesla's entry signals rising investor confidence and strengthens its move towards clean mobility. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, while inaugurating the store, said: 'This is not just the inauguration of an experience centre but a statement that Tesla has arrived, in the right city and state, that is Mumbai, Maharashtra. Mumbai stands for innovation and sustainability.' With deliveries estimated to start from the third quarter, Tesla is targeting a niche electric vehicle segment in India that accounts for just 4 per cent of overall sales in the world's third-largest car market. The base price of the Y model is Rs6.78m or $79,000 for the long-range, rear-wheel drive vehicle, according to a presentation by the company. By comparison, the price tag is around $44,990 in the US without a federal tax credit. The government wants to change that and increase the electric vehicle share to 30 per cent by 2030. Sales of Tesla electric cars fell sharply from April to June as boycotts over Musk 's political views continued, keeping buyers away. Tesla will compete mainly with German luxury giants such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz rather than domestic mass-market EV players such as Tata Motors and Mahindra. The company will import cars into a country where tariffs and related duties can exceed 100 per cent, driving up the price for consumers. Grappling with excess capacity in global factories and declining sales, Tesla has adopted a strategy of selling imported vehicles in India, despite the duties and levies. The EV maker has long lobbied India for lower import tariffs on cars, and prime minister Narendra Modi's officials remain in talks with US president Donald Trump's administration to lower the levies under a bilateral trade deal. Musk invited Indians in April 2016 to preorder the upcoming Tesla Model 3. Several customers placed an order but the cars never arrived and the booking amount had to be refunded. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, in 2019 Musk expressed concern in a post on his social media platform X that import taxes could double prices of Tesla cars, making them 'unaffordable'. Tesla pressed Indian authorities to cut import taxes on EVs to be able to test the local market, but New Delhi wanted Tesla to set up manufacturing facilities so a comprehensive policy could benefit all the players in the sector. The dynamics changed after Modi and Musk met in the US in February during the prime minister's state visit.

Tesla opens first India showroom at Mumbai's BKC, cars to start at ₹59.89 lakh
Tesla opens first India showroom at Mumbai's BKC, cars to start at ₹59.89 lakh

Hindustan Times

timea day ago

  • Automotive
  • Hindustan Times

Tesla opens first India showroom at Mumbai's BKC, cars to start at ₹59.89 lakh

Mumbai: On a rainy Tuesday, Tesla Inc. opened its first showroom in India at the upscale Bandra Kurla Complex, marking the American electric vehicle maker's long-anticipated launch in the world's third-largest automobile market. Mumbai, India - July 15, 2025: Tesla has inaugurated its first experience centre showroom in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) Tesla will begin its stint in its 50th global market by importing and selling two versions of its popular Model Y electric cars, which were on display at the swanky new 4,500-square-metre showroom in Mumbai's financial district. Several car enthusiasts and curious onlookers got a glimpse of the shiny new cars—coloured Ultra Red and Pearl White—with a starting price of nearly ₹60 lakh. The base price (excluding road tax and other fees) for the rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle with a range of 500 km would be ₹59.89 lakh (~$69,650), while the long-range variant (622 km) would start from ₹67.89 lakh (~$78,950). Model Y is priced at $46,630 (~ ₹40 lakh) in the US, highlighting India's high import tariffs and shipping costs. Despite the steep prices, Tesla officials said bookings for the cars have begun, and deliveries are expected to start from the December quarter for the RWD and the March quarter for the long-range variant. 'These cars can be purchased either through full payment or a vehicle loan with an interest rate of around 8.7%-11%. The actual interest rate is at the discretion of the bank,' said a Tesla official, requesting anonymity. The company plans to launch another showroom in Delhi soon. The EV giant has upgraded the features of the two variants to suit Indian roads following two years of testing, officials said. However, Tesla's popular self-driving features will not be available in India for now, as the Indian government yet to formulate a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. 'The FSD (Full Self-Driving) will not be available. However, it will be there in the vehicle as a feature. It's a matter of government policy to allow full self-driving, and only then can it be incorporated. All that we will need to do is update the over-the-air software update,' said the Tesla official. Tesla's FSD relies heavily on cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and GPS, which are likely to struggle with India's chaotic roads, which have inconsistent lane markings and dividers, plenty of potholes and other obstacles like pedestrians and animals, not to mention an overall poor adherence to traffic rules. However, Tesla officials said the cars have been tested for safety on city road conditions, have good suspension and have an active axle balance. Safety features in Model Y will include an advanced emergency brake system, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control, officials added. Tesla is offering two different kinds of chargers in India. The first is the Supercharger, which will be available on the roads, while the wall connector can be installed at home. For 100% charging of Model Y, the wall connector will take about seven hours, while Superchargers will take about 15-20 minutes, officials said. In the first quarter after deliveries begin, the wall connector charger will be provided free with the vehicle booking. The company plans to install 16 Superchargers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, in areas such as BKC, Lower Parel, Thane, and Navi Mumbai. 'Tesla also has the world's most reliable and robust charging network with 7,000-plus Supercharging stations and over 70,000 Superchargers, with more than 10,000 Superchargers added in 2024,' said Isabel Fan, Tesla's director for South East Asia. Tesla is likely to manufacture the two variants in its China factory and import them to India. Its entry into the world's most populated country with a fast-growing consumer base comes at a time when global sales are plunging and the company is facing challenges in its two core markets, China and the US. However, while the Model Y is the world's top-selling electric car, few Indians will be able to afford one. The country's EV penetration remains under 5%, and luxury cars make up just 1% of total vehicle sales. India is currently negotiating a trade deal with the US, including a potential reduction in tariffs on automobiles — something Tesla founder Elon Musk has been seeking for years. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the new showroom on Tuesday, welcomed the entry of Tesla in India. 'This is not just the inauguration of an experience centre, but it is a statement that Tesla has arrived in the right city and the right state. Mumbai is not just the financial, commercial, and entertainment capital, but also the entrepreneurial capital. I experienced my first Tesla ride back in 2015 in the US, and knew then that India needed this. We are glad to see it finally here. Maharashtra has emerged as a strong EV hub with progressive EV policies, robust charging infrastructure and the most comprehensive support for electric mobility,' he said. With inputs from agencies

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