TSLA Tesla Inc

U.S. auto-safety regulators are investigating Tesla Motors Inc.'s autopilot feature after a motorist using the system died in Florida, ratcheting up scrutiny of the Silicon Valley electric-vehicle company's highly-touted technology and driverless cars more broadly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a so-called preliminary evaluation into the design and performance of automated driving systems in Tesla's Model S, the agency said Thursday. A preliminary evaluation is an initial official probe by the agency and could later be elevated to a more significant engineering analysis if widespread, significant problems are found. It isn't an official determination that a defect exists in the vehicle.

Regulators opened the probe after Tesla alerted them to a fatal highway crash in Williston, Fla., May 7 in which a 2015 Model S was using the autopilot feature. The crash occurred when a tractor-trailer made a left turn in front of the Tesla car at an intersection of a noncontrolled access highway, the agency said, citing preliminary reports. The driver died in the crash.

Tesla in a lengthy statement on its website said the crash represented "the first known fatality in just over 130 million miles where Autopilot was activated." The company said it informed regulators immediately after the crash occurred.

"NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation will examine the design and performance of the automated driving systems in use at the time of the crash," the agency said in a statement. "During the preliminary evaluation, NHTSA will gather additional data regarding this incident and other information regarding the automated driving systems."

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 30, 2016 17:25 ET (21:25 GMT)

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