233159


No recall for Tesla

U.S. safety regulators will end an investigation into a fatal crash involving electric car maker Tesla Motors' Autopilot system without seeking a recall, a person briefed on the matter said Thursday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration scheduled a call Thursday about the investigation.

The person said Tesla won't be fined — but that the agency will criticize the company for confusing customers by calling the semi-autonomous driving system Autopilot. The person wasn't authorized to provide details because results have not been released and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investigation began June 28, nearly two months after a driver using Autopilot in a Tesla Model S died when it failed to spot a tractor-trailer crossing the car's path on a highway in Williston, Florida, near Gainesville.

Tesla's Autopilot system uses cameras, radar and computers to detect objects and automatically brake if the car is about to hit something. It also can steer the car to keep it centred in its lane. The company said that before Autopilot can be used, drivers must acknowledge that it's an "assist feature" that requires both hands on the wheel at all times. Drivers also must be prepared to take over at any time, Tesla has said.

The lack of a recall is good news for Tesla because the agency is either blaming the crash on human error or it doesn't see the recall as necessary because Tesla software updates have already addressed the problem, said Karl Brauer, executive publisher of Kelley Blue Book.

"Either one reflects well on Tesla," he said.

The agency's findings are likely to influence how automakers market semi-autonomous systems. Just about every auto company has or is working on similar systems as they move toward self-driving cars.



More Business News



232708
230807
Data from CryptoCompare
RECENT STORIES
230970
Castanet Proud Member of RTNDA Canada
232249
Press Room
232208
229228