A Florida court ordered Tesla to pay about $243 million over a fatal 2019 crash involving a Model S using Autopilot, finding the software defective. Tesla plans to appeal, arguing the driver was solely at fault. This verdict could hinder Tesla’s plans to expand its robotaxi network in the U.S., raising regulatory and safety concerns.
Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk aims to launch robotaxis for half of the U.S. population by the end of the year, but convincing regulators may become harder. Tesla began a small robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas, in June. Until Tesla’s entry, Waymo was the only U.S. company with a paid driverless taxi service.
The crash involved the Tesla running a stop sign while the driver was distracted retrieving a phone, hitting parked victims. Although the driver admitted fault, the jury found Autopilot had a defect and partially blamed Tesla. This verdict is unusual compared to prior Autopilot cases, some still pending.
Credit: CGTN
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