Tesla recalls 2 million vehicles over crash fears
- Published
Tesla will issue updates to more than 2 million cars to prevent drivers abusing its Autopilot system after hundreds of crashes occurred when using the technology, some of them fatal.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the electric car maker would make changes amid concerns that motorists were not paying attention to the road when the system is activated.
It comes after a two-year investigation into Teslas crashing into emergency vehicles when the Autopilot function was activated.
Autopilot, which maintains speed in traffic and can steer on bends in the road, has faced multiple safety investigations and has been criticised for encouraging Tesla owners to place too much faith in the driver assistance technology.
At least 736 crashes, 17 of them fatal, have involved Autopilot since 2019, according to figures from the safety regulator.
The numbers have increased dramatically in the last two years, as drivers were given access to a more capable “Full Self Driving” system.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, has insisted that making the system widely available is justified and that the technology results in fewer crashes than when humans are behind the wheel.
Autopilot requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and warns them to stay alert and in control of the car, but the safety agency said the current level of controls “may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse”.