Tesla Says Car in Netherlands Not on Autopilot at Time of Crash

Tesla Motors Inc.'s "Autopilot" feature wasn't in use during a deadly crash of one of its vehicles south of Amsterdam, the company said.

"We can confirm from the car's logs that Autopilot was not engaged at any time during the drive cycle and that, consistent with the damage that was observed after the vehicle struck the tree, the vehicle was being driven at more than 155 km/h," Tesla said Thursday in a prepared statement.

The driver didn't survive. Tesla and Dutch authorities were investigatingÂ the incidentÂ Wednesday.

Tesla crashes have come under scrutiny since the company revealed in June that a Model S ran into a truck in Florida while in its Autopilot feature was engaged. The driver died, marking the first death in which Tesla's Autopilot was active. That crash has ignited a broader debate about autonomous vehicle technology in development by auto makers and tech companies.

Tesla's Autopilot system, which is a step toward self-driving cars, uses cameras, radar and sensors to steer the vehicle, adjust its speed and change lanes. Drivers must acknowledge, when they activate Autopilot, that the system is in beta-test and that they are responsible for the vehicle. The system includes safeguards intended to ensure that drivers keep hands on the wheel to take control if needed.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in June said it was investigating the Florida crash, which occurred in May. The agency disclosed in July that it was seeking documents and details of additional crashes involving Tesla's Autopilot feature.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 08, 2016 15:45 ET (19:45 GMT)

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024