Tesla has settled a lawsuit related to a 2018 car crash involving its Autopilot system, which resulted in the death of an Apple engineer. The settlement was reached on the eve of the trial concerning the high-profile accident, but the specific terms were not disclosed.
The crash in question occurred in 2018, when a Tesla Model X, operating on Autopilot, veered off a highway near San Francisco, resulting in the death of 38-year-old Walter Huang. Huang's family alleged that Autopilot steered the vehicle into a highway barrier.
This settlement comes amidst a series of lawsuits faced by Tesla over crashes allegedly involving its Autopilot system. The outcome of these lawsuits poses a risk of significant financial liabilities and reputational damage for the automaker.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has investigated numerous crashes involving Tesla vehicles with Autopilot engaged, including over 900 incidents and more than 40 investigations resulting in 23 fatalities.
Despite Elon Musk's promotion of self-driving technology as crucial for Tesla's future, the company has yet to produce a fully autonomous vehicle. Musk recently announced plans to unveil a self-driving robotaxi and offer a free trial of its driver-assist technology to US customers.
While Tesla asserts that Autopilot is capable of certain automated driving functions, it emphasizes the need for a fully attentive driver who can take over at any moment. However, critics argue that incidents like the 2018 crash highlight the limitations and risks associated with relying on driver-assist systems.
The settlement of this lawsuit underscores the potential legal challenges faced by Tesla concerning its Autopilot technology and highlights the importance of safety and regulatory scrutiny in the development and deployment of autonomous driving systems.
