NHTSA Bans Device that Disables Tesla Autopilot Safety Feature
Federal authorities have ordered a California company to stop marketing a device that interferes with the automatic warnings issued by Tesla Inc.’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system.
#marketing #regulations
Federal authorities have ordered a California company to stop marketing a device that interferes with the automatic warnings issued by Tesla Inc.’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system.
Autopilot can steer a Tesla vehicle automatically under certain conditions. The banned product, called Autopilot Buddy, disables an Autopilot feature that warns drivers to place their hands back on the wheel after several seconds of non-contact.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered Autopilot Buddy maker Dolder, Falco and Reese Partners LLC to stop marketing its $200 device in the U.S. NHTSA says that defeating a safety system is “unacceptable.” Tesla concurs.
The manufacturer’s website describes its product as a “Tesla Autopilot Nag Reduction Device” and says it hopes to resolve the NHTSA order “as quickly as possible.”
Tesla tells owners they must be able to resume control of their car instantly at any time, regardless of whether or not Autopilot is functioning.
RELATED CONTENT
-
GM to Import Chinese-Made Cadillac Plug-in Hybrids
General Motors Co. plans later this year to ship plug-in hybrid versions of its just-introduced Cadillac CT6 sedan from China to the U.S., says Uwe Ellinghaus, the brand’s marketing chief.
-
Chevy Tahoe Back in Black
Last August, Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks marketing director, noted of the full-size SUV segment, “In the past five years, the average transaction price for the segment has climbed fueled by customer appetite for features like heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.
-
Frick to Head Ford Sales in U.S.
Ford Motor Co. has named Andrew Frick, its U.S. marketing director for the past year, to be its U.S. sales director.