Tesla prepares for its first trial involving a tragic Autopilot incident


Autonomous Vehicle News

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For the first time, Tesla will defend itself in court against claims that the Autopilot driver assistance system was the cause of a fatal crash. 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. According to the lawsuit brought by Banner’s wife, Autopilot did nothing to prevent the crash; the system failed to brake, steer, or anything else. Tesla claimed driver error for both accidents, denied responsibility, and insisted that Autopilot is secure when controlled by people. According to Tesla documents, drivers must focus on the road and keep their hands firmly on the wheel.