The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a statement indicating that it will be investigating yet another Tesla accident involving the company’s Autopilot software.
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The Detroit Free Press reports that Albert Scaglione, a former Wayne State University mechanical engineering teacher and founder of Southfield-based Park West Gallery, was involved in a rollover crash in a Tesla Model X SUV last week near mile marker 160 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
It could be weeks if not months before officials make a final determination of the cause of the crash, the first known fatality of a Model S driver while using Autopilot. The latest news stems from a July 1 incident involving a Tesla Model X that veered into a guard rail before ultimately crashing into a concrete median. Citing a Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q filing that stated it could be subject to a product liability claim if the vehicle’s performance resulted in death, which, according to Fortune, showed that Tesla did in fact believe the crash to be material.
Tesla’s statement yesterday regarding the fatal crash noted that it was the first “in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated”.
The post appears to take a tougher stance on culpability for the accident, a significant issue that has prompted some researchers to question whether carmakers should take on more responsibility for an accident in a self-driving auto, much as a licensed driver would.
Panasonic is the exclusive supplier of batteries for the Model 3, Tesla’s first mass-market vehicle. They are also expected to keep their hands on the wheel while it is engaged, as well as to “maintain control and responsibility” for their vehicles. The fact that Tesla Motors has made it this far is nothing short of unbelievable, but the company is facing rough waters. According to him, whether the technology is ready or not, it is coming.
There should be a lot more Musk tweets on Autopilot safety. Still, motorists operating vehicles with Autopilot should remain attentive, the company reported.
Fortune Magazine published two reports alleging a May 7 wreck killing Model S owner Joshua Brown was “material” information that should have been disclosed by Tesla before selling more than billion of stock in a public offering at a price of 5 per share.
The Florida Highway Patrol contacted Tesla, seeking help in downloading data from the car’s so-called black-box recorder, seven to 10 days after the crash.
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Tesla said: “As part of its regular ongoing communication and not as part of any formal process, Tesla told NHTSA about the accident while it was still in the process of conducting its investigation, this happened on May 16”.
