Software update - Two million vehicles affected: Tesla must improve Autopilot
Officially voluntarily, but probably grudgingly, Tesla will have to update almost its entire US vehicle fleet in the coming days. The NHTSA safety recall report states that 2,031,220 vehicles from 2012 to 2023 are affected, including all models except the Cybertruck.
Incidentally, recall is an outdated term in connection with the adjustment of the software - because no Tesla has to return to the workshop for the update. The required changes will be transferred to the affected cars as an over-the-air update (OTA). Anything else would have been a logistical nightmare for the company.
Tesla must monitor drivers more closely
As part of the update, Tesla will incorporate new protection mechanisms into the Autopilot system after the federal regulator raised safety concerns. These changes are intended to ensure that drivers remain attentive when usingAutopilot.
The NHTSA concluded after years of investigation that the system's controls "may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse" and could therefore increase the risk of a crash. Acting NHTSA head Ann Carlson praised Tesla for agreeing to the recall.
The upcoming changes are intended to alter Autopilot in that the feature, called Autosteer, will provide significantly more cues, both audible and visual, when the driver is distracted and/or not holding the steering wheel. Tesla describes the Autosteer function as follows: "Autosteer maintains a certain speed or distance. In addition, Autosteer recognizes lane markings, road edges and the presence of vehicles and objects to keep the vehicle in its lane."
In contrast to Tesla, other manufacturers that offer a similar function monitor much more strictly whether the person at the wheel is looking at the road and holding the steering wheel. Until now, Tesla has been considered comparatively relaxed when it comes to the legally prescribed obligation to continuously check driver behavior for negligence.
Investigations into accidents are ongoing
Autopilot has been criticized in many countries for various reasons. The NHTSA has been analyzing countless accidents involving Tesla vehicles for years, in which the software may have played a decisive role at the time of the respective accident. The software, which has now been changed by mutual agreement, does not change this fact. As the news agency Reuters reports, the authorities are continuing their investigation.
Sources: NHTSA, Reuters
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After the software update, Tesla will need to ensure that their Autopilot system provides more notifications when drivers are not paying attention. This is in response to concerns raised by the NHTSA, who believes that the current system may not effectively prevent driver misuse.
Tesla's decision to update their software is part of a recall affecting over 2 million vehicles in the US. The update will be carried out over-the-air (OTA), sparing Tesla the logistical challenges of a traditional recall process.
Despite the software update, investigations into accidents involving Tesla vehicles continue. The NHTSA and news agency Reuters are still analyzing incidents where Tesla's Autopilot feature may have played a role.
Source: www.stern.de
