A California trial against Tesla has started over its autopilot feature, which led to a driver’s death.
The attorney representing victims of a fatal Tesla incident has blamed the firm’s “experimental” autopilot system.
Jonathan Michaels claimed Tesla knowingly sold a defective system and said it should never have marketed such “experimental vehicles” to consumers.
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The trial is based on a civil suit related to a 2019 crash that resulted in the death of the Tesla owner and severe injuries to passengers.
The plaintiffs claim Tesla’s autopilot and safety systems were faulty at the time of the car’s sale.
In his opening statement, Mr Michaels said when the 37-year-old Tesla owner purchased Tesla’s “full self-driving capability package” for $6,000 for his Model 3 in 2019, the system was in a “beta” phase.
He claimed this means the model was not yet ready for public use.
Michaels noted the car’s steering wheel executed a sharp, 43-degree turn on a freeway.
He added “excessive steering command is a known issue at Tesla.”
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Tesla strongly denies the claims and argues its autopilot system places “guardrails” on the steering wheel’s angle at high speeds.
The automaker said it allows for only minimal steering adjustments on highways.
The company defended the system’s safety and asserted that the driver was at fault due to intoxication.
Michael Carey, an attorney for Tesla, said: “The case is not about autopilot.
He added: “Autopilot makes a road safer. It is a good thing. It is a classic human error that caused the crash.”
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Tesla also contended it was unclear whether the autopilot was engaged during the accident.
Trial could have big ramifications
The trial’s outcome carries significance due to the fatality involved.
In April, Tesla won a legal case in Los Angeles, arguing that despite the “autopilot” name, drivers were responsible for closely monitoring the technology.
However, this trial involves higher stakes, with both sides expected to present their arguments over the next few weeks.
