The U.S. safety agency expanded its investigation of Tesla Motor’s autopilot system after a fatal crash in Florida in May. Tesla may become subject to product liability claims, and negative publicity could curb enthusiasm for Tesla cars and other self-driving technologies.
“Depending on the specific facts and the particular state’s law, Tesla could conceivably be liable to the family of the Tesla driver for the design and marketing of its autopilot system,” said Bryant Walker Smith, an assistant professor of law at the University of South Carolina, who specializes in autonomous vehicle regulations.
“Other vehicle owners might claim misrepresentation,” he said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 12 disclosed a nine-page letter sent to Tesla asking for more information about its Autopilot (automated driving system), as part of an ongoing probe. The Autopilot system was in use when 40-year-old Joshua Brown, driving a Tesla 2015 Model S sedan, collided with a tractor-trailer in Florida.
