Mexican Media Brands
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
Share
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
-
Daimler Cleared to Test Advanced Robotic Cars on Beijing Roads
Daimler AG has become the first foreign carmaker to win permission to test advanced self-driving vehicles on public roads in Beijing.
-
Feds Probe Another Tesla Crash Involving Autopilot Feature
Federal investigators are looking into another crash involving a Tesla Model S electric sedan that was operating in semi-autonomous mode.
-
China Targets 7 Million Annual NEV Sales by 2025
The Chinese government is targeting annual sales of electric and plug-in cars at 7 million units by 2025—nine times last year’s volume.
