Gabriel Walker
Dec 13, 2023
Elon Musk's brainchild, Tesla, hits the brakes on over two million cars in response to a major Autopilot glitch unearthed by US regulators. After a rigorous two-year probe into Autopilot-related crashes, Tesla is taking swift action.
The remedy? A cutting-edge "over the air" software update to mend the flaw, was announced by Tesla itself.
This sweeping recall blankets nearly every Tesla sold in the US since the inception of the Autopilot feature back in 2015.
Autopilot, touted as a driving aid for steering, acceleration, and braking, ironically demands constant user input despite its name.
The root of the recall? The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) pinpoints a snag in Autopilot's driver monitoring system, responsible for detecting driver attention — a crucial safety feature, including monitoring hand placement on the wheel.
Tesla acknowledges the flaw, citing the controls' inadequacy in thwarting driver misuse.
While Tesla gears up for the software update, the NHTSA keeps a vigilant eye on the fix's effectiveness.
This bombshell follows recent criticism from a former Tesla employee, questioning the safety of Autopilot for public roads — a sentiment echoing the second Tesla recall this year.
