The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is demanding more information from Tesla about its Autopilot driver assistance system, threatening the US automaker with hefty fines if it does not comply, according to a document seen by AFP on Thursday.
The request, dated July 3, is about obtaining data on changes made by Tesla to the Autopilot system, the safety aspect of which is under review by the regulator as early as 2021.
“Failure to respond promptly and fully” could result in a civil penalty of up to $26,315 a day after the deadline — set for July 19 — with a maximum amount of $131.6 million, Tanya Topka, Acting Director, said in the letter responsibilities of the director. Directorate for investigation of informants.
It is asking Tesla’s chief quality officer, Eddie Gates, to provide “all modifications or changes made since the start of production for vehicles built between 2014 and 2023, specifically stating the date and reason for such actions.”
NHTSA opened a preliminary investigation in August 2021 after a series of crashes involving Autopilot and emergency vehicles. It launched a full investigation in June 2022.
The goal is to “investigate the extent to which Tesla’s Autopilot and related systems may enhance human factors or risky behavior by reducing the effectiveness of driver supervision,” the agency explained. (photo: Melpomenem, Dreamstime.com)
Source: Hot News
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