A photo from a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board investigation of the May 7, 2016 fatal crash involving the driver of a Tesla Model S sedan and a tractor-trailer near Willitson, Florida, depicting where the Tesla struck the side of the trailer.
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Mobileye cited concern over the negative perception of autonomous technologies attributed to Tesla as part of its reasoning for ending future development with the automaker, which is likely a reference to the death of Joshua Brown in a Model S using Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistance system earlier this year.
The NTSB said Joshua Brown, 40, of OH, was driving at 74 miles per hour with the car’s semi-autonomous driving system engaged at the time of the crash that took his life. Now the company – which has been plagued by missed production targets in the past – has to deliver on its promise to roll out the first of the cars by late 2017.
The driver, 40-year-old Joshua Brown of OH, was using Tesla’s “Autopilot” mode at the time of the deadly crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Florida police said the roof of the auto struck the underside of the trailer and the vehicle passed beneath.
Brown, a 40-year-old Navy veteran from OH, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Musk said that once at full production, he expects the Model 3 to generate around $20 billion in revenue per year for Tesla with $5 billion in gross profit (or 25% gross margin).
In revealing the crash on June 30, nearly two months after it happened, government officials and the automaker said the car’s cameras failed to distinguish the white side of the turning tractor-trailer from a brightly lit sky and didn’t automatically activate its brakes. The NTSB has not yet determined the probable cause of the crash. But he did reiterate that the company will press ahead with semi-autonomous driving features, which can prevent injuries and accidents.
Going forward, Mobileye said it intends to focus its attention on developing technology for fully autonomous vehicles, rather than working on self-driving programs that still require drivers to take control at times. Tesla seems comfortable with letting its customers beta-test its newest systems; Mobileye wants to label its current product as a mere “driver assistance” feature.
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Attorneys representing Brown’s family told CNNMoney they’re continuing to investigate the crash.
