Tesla Inc. is facing its largest recall ever, as it announced plans to fix over 2 million vehicles due to safety concerns with its Autopilot driver-assistance system. The decision came after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that Autopilot fails to adequately prevent misuse. The NHTSA will continue to monitor the effectiveness of Tesla's proposed fixes, keeping the defect investigation open.
According to the NHTSA, Tesla's measures to keep drivers engaged were deemed insufficient. In a statement, the NHTSA highlighted the importance of responsible deployment of automated technology to ensure safety. The agency's action in this recall aims to improve automated systems by prioritizing safety.
In response to the recall, Tesla outlined plans to deploy an over-the-air software update that would introduce additional controls and alerts by December 12th or shortly thereafter. However, news of the recall caused Tesla's shares to drop by 1.9% in New York trading.
This recall marks the second time this year that Tesla's automated-driving systems have come under scrutiny. The company's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features require drivers to maintain full attention and keep their hands on the wheel. Despite CEO Elon Musk's predictions of achieving full autonomy, Tesla has faced criticism following multiple crashes, some of which have resulted in fatalities.
Autopilot, which has been a standard feature on Tesla vehicles, is present in the majority of the company's cars on US roads. The system uses multiple cameras to monitor surroundings, maintain speed with traffic, and assist drivers in staying within marked lanes.
Tesla introduced its higher-level functionality called FSD Beta in late 2016. However, this suite of features was also recalled earlier this year due to concerns raised by the NHTSA. The agency expressed concerns about Teslas using the system in unlawful or unpredictable ways, such as exceeding speed limits or failing to come to complete stops.
Last year, Elon Musk hinted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that Tesla would update FSD Beta to allow some drivers to disable alerts prompting them to keep their hands on the steering wheel. This prompted NHTSA to request further information from the company.
The NHTSA's ongoing investigations into Autopilot were initiated by Tesla crashes involving first-responder vehicles and sudden braking on highways. In total, the agency has opened over 50 special crash investigations related to Tesla cars and Autopilot, with the pace of probes increasing under the Biden administration.
Aside from the NHTSA, other regulatory bodies are also scrutinizing Tesla's driving systems. In January, the company revealed that the Justice Department had requested documents related to Autopilot and FSD Beta. Additionally, it was reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission was investigating Elon Musk's role in shaping Tesla's self-driving claims.
The recall of 2 million vehicles underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of automated-driving systems. Tesla now faces the challenge of rectifying the identified safety flaws while also addressing the growing concerns surrounding the reliability and deployment of its Autopilot and FSD Beta features.