Autopilot on trial: nuclear verdict targets Tesla

Autopilot: misleading advertising?

Tesla’s Autopilot system is a Level 2 driver assistance technology that includes features such as automatic steering, emergency braking, and collision warnings. Despite these capabilities, Tesla warns that drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. However, the lawsuit related to the 2019 crash argues that the company made misleading and confusing statements about the system’s actual capabilities.

According to the plaintiffs, Tesla’s marketing promoted Autopilot as if it were a fully autonomous system. As a result, the driver was using their phone, believing the system would handle the situation entirely on its own, which tragically ended in a fatal accident. It is also alleged that Tesla was fully aware of the misuse of its technology by drivers but failed to implement effective measures to prevent it.

The jury agreed with the plaintiffs’ arguments, concluding that Tesla misled consumers about Autopilot’s capabilities — starting with the system’s very name. A key element in the case was a promotional video showing a Tesla navigating city streets without a driver. Elon Musk himself promoted the video, claiming the car was “driving itself (with no human input at all),” which, according to the plaintiffs, created a false perception and encouraged overreliance on a system that still requires active supervision.