NHTSA issues a special order to Tesla regarding Autopilot's safety features

Tesla has been asked to submit a response by August 25, 2022.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sought more information from Tesla about the safety of its Autopilot feature. The agency's order dated July 26, 2022, is part of its continuing investigation into Autopilot's safety following numerous crashes. The order relates specifically to Tesla's latest version of the Autopilot system, known as FSD (Full Self-Driving) Beta 9. It allows drivers to rely too heavily on the system without monitoring it properly. The order also seeks clarification about Tesla's driver monitoring systems. The NHTSA is already investigating whether the EV maker's cabin camera can monitor driver attention and alert the driver, as well as how it generates its quarterly safety reports.

Tesla has been asked to submit a response by August 25, 2022. The agency has also warned the automaker that late responses to its requests can result in a daily penalty of $26,315. The order comes ahead of back-to-back lawsuits filed against Tesla this year related to Autopilot's safety features .The first lawsuit is set to be heard in September in a California state court and alleges that Autopilot caused a car to veer off a highway, killing the driver. The second lawsuit, scheduled for October, relates to the death of a Miami driver whose Model 3 crashed into a truck without any attempt by Autopilot to brake or avoid the collision. Tesla continues to face scrutiny from regulators and legal challenges over the safety of Autopilot.