Tesla Autopilot recall to be probed by US regulator

The US auto regulator is investigating whether Tesla’s biggest ever recall successfully addressed safety concerns relating to its driver assistance system.

In December, Tesla issued a software update to two million of its vehicles in the US to fix problems with its Autopilot feature.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it will now probe the “adequacy” of that fix.

Tesla has been approached for comment.

The NHTSA has just concluded a nearly three-year-long investigation into crashes involving cars fitted with Autopilot.

The agency said there had been at least 13 Tesla crashes, involving at least one death, and many more involving serious injuries, in which “foreseeable driver misuse of the system played an apparent role.”

A document, external outlining the NHTSA’s new probe says it has identified concerns in Tesla’s recall remedy after initial testing of remedied cars and analysing crashes which took place following its implementation.

It also says that “Tesla has stated that a portion of the remedy both requires the owner to opt in and allows a driver to readily reverse it.”

The new investigation comes shortly after Tesla recalled thousands of its new Cybertrucks over an accelerator crash risk.

2024 has also seen sales and profits fall at the car-maker, and an on-going row about boss Elon Musk’s enormous pay package.

This was shortly after the firm announced layoffs to 10% of its global workforce after delivering less vehicles than investors expected.

Mr Musk told investors in its latest earnings call that new electric vehicle model launches would be brought forward, but also that Tesla should be viewed as more than just a car company.

He added its humanoid robot Optimus “will be more valuable than everything else combined”.