In Germany Tesla-vehicles are the focus of investigations due to repeated phantom braking. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the Traunstein Regional Court are taking the autopilot of Tesla autopilot after reports of inexplicable braking maneuvers and the resulting safety risks emerged.
Background to the investigations
Several Tesla-drivers have reported sudden braking maneuvers in which vehicles have braked sharply for no apparent reason. These phantom braking maneuvers occur primarily in autopilot mode. The KBA's investigations include comprehensive tests of the emergency braking and assistance systems of Tesla-cars. Tesla The KBA itself has not yet commented on the ongoing investigations.
Investigations and court ruling
In a recent ruling, the Traunstein Regional Court confirmed that the autopilot of Tesla does not meet the safety requirements expected by consumers in this price category. A court expert who had driven several hundred kilometers on freeways with a Model 3 had to stop the test after around 700 kilometers - for safety reasons. In one example, it was reported that a vehicle suddenly braked to 96 km/h at 140 km/h, which led to abrupt swerving and braking maneuvers. This case is the first publicly known ruling in Germany to classify phantom braking as relevant to safety. The case will now be referred to the Munich Higher Regional Court.
Test reports and safety aspects
The incidents that have led to more than 50 reported deaths in the USA in connection with the Tesla-Autopilot raise questions about the reliability of the system. A commissioned expert declared that further driving on public roads was "no longer feasible for safety reasons" due to the unpredictable braking. The results of these tests suggest that, despite advanced assistance systems, there is still a need for optimization to ensure the protection of occupants and other road users.
Outlook
The ongoing investigations by the KBA and the court examinations in Traunstein show that safety in autonomous driving remains a top priority. Tesla will probably work more intensively on optimizing its autopilot in the coming months. While internal documents suggest that Tesla is aware of the problem, it remains to be seen what concrete measures will be implemented to improve the system.
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