functionality. Tesla’s self-driving functions will become more limited as a result. The carmaker has consented to carry out a significant recall that will affect 2 million vehicles—nearly all of the EVs it has ever sold in the US. Owners won’t need to take their cars in for maintenance thanks to Tesla’s over-the-air upgrade capability, but following this update, the autonomous features might not be as appealing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a two-year investigation that led to the recall. Over a thousand crashes involving Tesla vehicles that had its self-driving systems activated were examined by the NHTSA. The government claims that while Tesla’s Autopilot functions can lead drivers to feel uneasy, they are not reliable enough to operate a vehicle without human intervention. This makes them lose concentration on the road for extended periods of time, which gives the car’s self-driving systems an opportunity to make crucial errors.
All Tesla vehicles come equipped with the basic Autopilot features; however, the upgraded version costs an additional $6,000, and Full Self Driving (FSD) requires an additional $12,000. For auto purchasers, that’s already a difficult sell, and the new regulations will make it even more difficult. Tesla has agreed to change how its Autosteer technology functions in both Autopilot and FSD, according to the NHTSA (PDF). The agency claims that although though Teslas urge drivers to maintain control of the car, they do not adequately monitor driver attentiveness. If you’ve driven a Tesla, you are aware that Autopilot isn’t always vigilant about making sure the driver stays on the wheel.
Tesla Model S, X, 3, and Y automobiles will check the driver’s attentiveness more frequently following the OTA update. The system will disable Autopilot and require the driver to assume manual control of the vehicle if it senses that they are distracted. If the circumstances of the road are not suitable, Autopilot can also decline to engage. Although Tesla claims that the standard Autopilot technology should only be used on highways, it frequently permits activation on surface streets. All owners should receive a letter outlining the recall by February 2024, and the OTA will be implemented over the next several weeks.
Tesla has been developing self-driving technology quickly, but it has also been removing sensors from its cars. The new Teslas are devoid of ultrasonic and radar sensors, depending only on cameras and machine vision to perceive their surroundings. According to the NHTSA, the probe will continue while it tracks Tesla’s corrective actions. There have been previous Autopilot recalls, and this one is most likely not the last. Previously, Tesla had to modify FSD’s driving style because it was designed to occasionally violate traffic laws.