Elon Musk Knew Tesla’s Autopilot System Was Faulty, Judge Says

Evidence of Elon Musk's Knowledge

In a recent court ruling, a Florida judge stated that there is evidence to suggest that Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, knew that the company's Autopilot system was defective. Despite this knowledge, Musk and other Tesla executives allowed the system to be sold to customers. The ruling allows a 2019 lawsuit against Tesla over the death of a Model 3 driver to proceed to trial.

The Tragic Incident

The lawsuit in question revolves around the death of Jeremy Banner, who was killed in 2019 when his Tesla Model 3 collided with a truck while the Autopilot system was engaged. The impact sheared off the roof of the car, resulting in Banner's death. His family filed a lawsuit accusing Tesla of gross negligence and intentional misconduct, alleging that the company was aware of issues with the Autopilot system but continued to oversell its capabilities.

Similarities to a Previous Crash

The court found that Banner's crash shared eerie similarities with a 2016 crash that killed a Tesla Model S driver named Joshua Brown. Both incidents involved a failure to detect crossing trucks, indicating that Tesla would likely have been aware of the Autopilot issue. It's important to note that the judge's ruling only suggests that it was reasonable to believe Musk and other executives had knowledge of the issue, with the final outcome to be determined at trial.

Controversial Statements by Elon Musk

Elon Musk has faced criticism for his statements regarding the capabilities of Tesla's self-driving technology. In 2016, he claimed that Autopilot was probably better than a human driver and referred to autonomous driving as a "solved problem." These statements were made after Joshua Brown's fatal crash.

Tesla's Marketing Controversy

Tesla has also come under fire for its marketing practices regarding Autopilot. In a video released in October 2016, the company showcased an Autopilot-equipped vehicle navigating a city, claiming that the car was "driving itself." However, it was later revealed that the video had been partially staged. The judge noted Tesla's strong public statements and marketing strategy that portrayed the products as autonomous, despite the flawed technology behind them.

Legal Challenges and Investigations

This latest ruling adds to the series of legal challenges faced by Elon Musk and Tesla regarding their self-driving technology. In October, Tesla won a similar legal battle in California when a jury ruled that Autopilot was not responsible for a fatal crash. However, the company is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for its self-driving marketing claims. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting a separate investigation into crashes involving Tesla vehicles.

Tesla has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this matter.

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By: tcarter@insider.com (Tom Carter)
Title: Elon Musk Knew Tesla’s Autopilot System Was Faulty, Judge Says
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-aware-of-tesla-autopilot-defect-driver-death-judge-2023-11
Published Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:12:04 +0000