Elon Musk declares US government recall for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system “anachronistic and just flat wrong!”
The world’s biggest EV maker, Tesla, will recall more than 362,000 electric vehicles after US road safety authorities determined its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta software was flawed.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered Tesla to recall more than 362,000 vehicles, including Model S and Model X (sold between 2016-2023), Model 3 (2017-2023) and Model Y (2020-2023) vehicles equipped with the FSD Beta software, because it allows cars to perform ‘unsafe’ actions.
The NHTSA said its tests showed the advanced driver assistance system failed to come to a complete stop at stop signs, drove through amber traffic lights without proper caution and didn’t adequately respond to changes in posted speed limits, among other criticisms.
The US road safety agency said the Tesla software allowed vehicles to “exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner” in such a way that “increases the risk of a crash”.
The recall does not affect Australian Tesla vehicles because the FSD Beta software is essentially banned in Australia because it does not comply with local road regulations.
Australian buyers can still order the system for around $10,000 and it will be unlocked for drivers when or if it becomes legal Down Under.
According to reports from NPR, Tesla does not agree with the NHTSA’s investigation but has promised to resolve the issues outlined by the agency.
However, the changes required to fix the FSD Beta systems can be addressed via an over-the-air (OTA) software update and owners won’t be physically required bring their cars to a Tesla service depot, raising the ire of CEO Elon Musk.
He used his own social media platform Twitter to argue that an OTA software update is not a ‘recall’ and use the of the word is “anachronistic and just flat wrong!”
Tesla promotes the FSD Beta system, which allows its vehicles to take over many driving duties, as one of the most advanced self-driving systems in the world and it is a huge money-spinner for the car-maker.
FSD Beta, or Autopilot as it’s sometimes called, costs $US15,000 in the USA, following a 25 per cent increase in mid-2022.
The NHTSA says its “…investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot and associated vehicle systems remains open and active”. Its latest findings come at a crucial time for Tesla, which will host its next investor day in less than two weeks (March 1).
Tesla and the NHTSA have had a combative relationship for years, but both parties agree the FSD Beta’s driving systems do not make Tesla vehicles fully autonomous and drivers should continue to pay attention to the road ahead.
The NHTSA has conducted more than 30 investigations involving Tesla vehicle crashes in the US, where it suspects 19 deaths are partly or wholly related to the company’s ADAS system.
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Keyword: Tesla recalls 362,000 vehicles