In what will probably be a significant test of Chief Executive Elon Musk’s claims about the technology, Tesla Inc. (TSLA.O) is scheduled to defend itself for the first time at trial against charges that the failure of its Autopilot driving assistance function resulted in death.
Musk, whose image as an engineering leader is being questioned by plaintiffs in one of two cases who claim that he directly oversees the group behind technologies that failed, claims that self-driving capabilities is essential to Tesla’s financial future. Tesla’s victories may increase trust and sales of the software, which may cost up to $15,000 per vehicle.
A then-8-year-old kid who was one of Lee’s two passengers was critically hurt in the 2019 collision, which has not previously been publicized. The passengers and Lee’s estate accuse Tesla of knowing that Autopilot and other safety features were flawed when it sold the car in the lawsuit they filed against the automaker.
Tesla claimed driver error for both incidents, denied responsibility, and insisted that Autopilot is secure when controlled by people. According to Tesla, motorists must maintain their focus on the road and keep their hands firmly on the wheel.
The business stated, “Today, there are no self-driving automobiles on the road.
New information on what Musk and other business leaders knew about the capabilities of Autopilot and any potential flaws will probably surface throughout the civil processes. For instance, the attorneys for Banner contend in a pre-trial court document that internal communications demonstrate Musk is the “de facto leader” of the Autopilot project. Musk has made no secret of his participation in the development of self-driving software, frequently tweeting about his test-driving of a Tesla with “Full Self-Driving” software. Tesla and Musk did not respond to Reuters’ emails for this report. Years of promises that Tesla will develop self-driving technology have fallen short of his own expectations.
