Tesla has won its first trial in the US over allegations that its Autopilot feature caused a fatal crash. The verdict is a significant victory for the automaker, as it faces multiple lawsuits and federal investigations related to the same technology. The outcome of the trial suggests that Tesla's arguments are gaining traction, with the jury placing ultimate responsibility on drivers when something goes wrong on the road.
The civil lawsuit alleges that the autopilot system caused a Model 3 to veer off the highway, resulting in a fatal crash. Tesla denied liability, claiming that the driver had consumed alcohol before the accident and that it was unclear whether Autopilot was engaged at the time.
The jury found that the vehicle did not have a manufacturing defect, delivering a 9-3 vote in favour of Tesla. This is the second trial this year in which Tesla has successfully argued that its technology requires human monitoring and that driver distraction was to blame for the accident.
However, the Riverside case had unique steering issues, which may have made the jury's decision more complex. Other lawsuits against Tesla have alleged that Autopilot is defectively designed, leading to driver misuse. The outcome of this trial focused solely on whether a manufacturing defect impacted the steering. Tesla's shares rose after the verdict was announced.
The company is also facing a criminal probe by the US Department of Justice and an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over claims that its vehicles can drive themselves. Despite the legal victories, analysts suggest that Tesla's disclaimers give the company strong defences in civil cases, but regulatory action may be necessary to address the broader issues surrounding autonomous driving technology.
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