US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has criticized Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist package, stating that the term ‘Autopilot’ is misleading to drivers who are still required to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
Buttigieg’s department is currently investigating Tesla’s driver’s assist package, particularly Autopilot’s connection to multiple collision and sudden-braking incidents. However, the investigation does not include marketing.
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In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Buttigieg stated, “I wouldn’t call something ‘Autopilot’ if the manual explicitly says that you have to have your hands on the wheel and the eyes on the road all the time. That’s not saying anything about the NHTSA scope of investigation, I’m just saying at a common sense level. I think that’s a concern.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a DOT agency, has cleared Autopilot in a fatal crash, but it continues to probe other incidents.
While Buttigieg’s department has no jurisdiction over product naming, the Justice Department has been investigating whether Tesla has misled the public with its claims about Autopilot.
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Tesla recently claimed that Autopilot’s safety record has resulted in one crash every 4.85 million miles, and it also offers another product called Full Self-Driving, which requires drivers to remain fully concentrated on the road and keep their hands on the wheel.
