The top federal auto safety agency said Friday it is investigating Tesla’s recall of its Autopilot driver assistance system because regulators are concerned the company is not doing enough to ensure drivers stay attentive when using technology.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in documents posted on its website that it was investigating Tesla’s December recall of two million vehicles, which affected almost all of the cars the company had manufactured in the United States. United since 2012. The safety agency said it was concerned about accidents that occurred after the recall and about the preliminary test results of the recalled vehicles.
The investigation adds to a list of headaches for Tesla, the leading electric vehicle maker in the United States. The company’s sales fell more than 8% in the first three months of the year compared to the same period a year earlier, the first such decline since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.
Tesla announced in December that it would recall its Autopilot software after an investigation by the auto safety agency found that the automaker did not have enough safeguards in place to ensure that the system , which can accelerate, brake and otherwise control cars, was used safely by drivers who were supposed to be ready at any moment to regain control of their car using Autopilot.
The agency said it had identified at least 13 fatal crashes linked to Autopilot use. The company also faces lawsuits from individuals who claim the system is defective and that its design contributed to or is responsible for serious injuries and deaths.
The recall, which involves an over-the-air software update, includes visual alerts and more visible controls when drivers use Autopilot to remind them to keep their hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road. The recall covers all five Tesla passenger models: the 3, S, X, Y and Cybertruck.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
The auto safety agency also said Friday that it disputes Tesla’s decision to allow customers to participate in the recall and reverse the changes. Tesla also appeared to issue other updates addressing recall-related issues that the company and safety agency had not agreed on in advance.
“This investigation will examine why these updates were not part of the recall or intended to address a defect that poses an unreasonable safety risk,” the agency said in its notice.
Tesla and its chief executive, Elon Musk, have long chafed over criticism of Autopilot and a more advanced system it calls Full Self-Driving. They argued that the systems, none of which make cars autonomous, make them safer and blamed any accidents or problems on drivers.
The automaker has also come under scrutiny from safety regulators over other issues.
Last week, the auto safety agency said Tesla had agreed to recall nearly 4,000 Cybertruck pickup trucks. The agency said the way the soap was used as a lubricant during assembly of the truck could cause the gas pedal to stick. The automaker is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to this defect.
In February, Tesla recalled more than two million vehicles because the font size on a warning light sign was too small.
The setbacks come as the company struggles to maintain its dominance in the electric vehicle market as newer, more established automakers launch new models around the world. Tesla’s market share of the US electric vehicle market fell to 51% in the first quarter, compared to 62% during the same period last year.
Mr. Musk told his employees this month that Tesla would cut more than 10% of its workforce. Two senior executives also announced they were leaving the company.
News Source : www.nytimes.com
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