A Texas-based Tesla owner has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the electric vehicle manufacturer, alleging that the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature is defective and was sold using aggressive and misleading sales tactics by CEO Elon Musk.
Incident Details
The lawsuit stems from an incident in which the owner, Justine Saint Amour, was driving her Cybertruck on the 69 Eastex Freeway in Houston when the vehicle’s Autopilot feature attempted to drive off an overpass. Saint Amour intervened and disengaged the FSD feature, preventing a potential accident. The incident occurred when the Cybertruck approached a Y-shaped overpass split and failed to follow the curve to the right, instead colliding with the concrete barrier at the edge of the overpass.
Allegations Against Elon Musk
The lawsuit alleges that Musk is an “aggressive and irresponsible salesman” who has made “dangerous design choices” and “overpromised features” of the FSD system. The lawsuit also claims that Musk overridden the concerns of Tesla engineers who wanted to incorporate LiDAR technology into the self-driving suite.
Tesla’s History of Legal Troubles
This is not the first time Tesla has faced legal troubles over its FSD feature. The company has been sued by multiple owners in China over the feature’s capabilities, and has faced a wrongful death lawsuit over a Model S crash that claimed three lives. Tesla has also been sued by the parents of a 19-year-old college student who died in a Cybertruck crash, alleging that the vehicle’s electronic door system trapped her inside the flaming vehicle.
Tesla’s Legal Battles
Tesla has also been involved in a legal battle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) over its marketing activities, which the DMV claims are misleading and false. The company dropped the “Autopilot” term from its marketing activities amid the row.
Stock Performance
Tesla’s stock price gained 2.15% to $407.82 at market close on Wednesday, but declined 0.74% to $404.81 during the after-hours session.
Conclusion
The lawsuit against Tesla is a significant development in the company’s history of legal troubles over its FSD feature. As the company continues to face scrutiny over its self-driving technology, it remains to be seen how the lawsuit will impact Tesla’s reputation and stock price.