Tesla has emerged victorious in its first trial in the US over allegations that its Autopilot feature caused a fatal crash. This is a significant win for the automaker as it faces similar lawsuits across the country.
The case was filed in a California state court by two passengers involved in a 2019 crash. They accused Tesla of knowingly selling a defective Autopilot system. However, Tesla argued that human error was to blame for the accident.
After four days of deliberation, the 12-member jury unanimously found that the vehicle did not have a manufacturing defect. The verdict, reached with a 9-3 vote, is a major relief for Tesla.
Both Tesla and the plaintiffs have refrained from commenting on the verdict. The civil lawsuit claimed that the Autopilot system caused Micah Lee’s Model 3 to suddenly veer off the highway, crash into a palm tree, and catch fire within seconds. Lee tragically lost his life in the crash, while his two passengers, including an 8-year-old boy, sustained serious injuries.
According to court documents, the lawsuit asserts that Tesla was aware of the defects in its Autopilot and other safety systems when it sold the car. However, Tesla denied any liability and alleged that Lee had consumed alcohol before driving. They also stated that it was unclear whether Autopilot was engaged at the time of the accident.
This is not the first time Tesla has successfully defended itself in court. In an earlier trial in Los Angeles, Tesla convinced the jury that its technology requires human monitoring, despite the names “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving.” The case involved a Model S swerving into a curb and injuring its driver, with the jury concluding that driver distraction was to blame.
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