Tesla recalls over two million vehicles after a US regulator discovered that its driver assistance technology, Autopilot, was partially flawed. It comes after a two-year examination into crashes involving the technology. The recall affects nearly every Tesla sold in the United States since the Autopilot feature was introduced in 2015.
Elon Musk’s Tesla said it would send a software update “over the air” to solve the problem. The update occurs automatically and does not require a visit to a dealership or garage, but the US regulator still refers to it as a recall. The UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency stated that it was not aware of any safety issues with Teslas in the UK, noting that cars sold in the UK do not include all of the features seen in cars sold in the US.
A representative for the agency stated that “Teslas sold in the UK market are not self-driving and are not approved to do so” and that the agency will keep an eye on the matter, reports Technology News UK.
Despite its name, autopilot is only intended to assist with steering, braking, and acceleration; driver intervention is still necessary. The software in Tesla vehicles is designed to ensure that drivers are paying attention and that the feature is only activated under the proper circumstances, such as while travelling on a highway. Nevertheless, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that “the prominence and scope of the feature’s controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse” following a two-year review into 956 Tesla crashes.
The NHTSA stated that “automated technology holds great promise for improving safety but only when it is deployed responsibly.” After the software was upgraded, the NHTSA said it would keep an eye on it.
An inquiry for comment from Tesla was not answered.