In a proactive move, Tesla is recalling over 2 million vehicles in the U.S. to address software concerns and rectify issues with a faulty system designed to monitor driver attention while using Autopilot.
According to documents released by U.S. safety regulators on Wednesday, the forthcoming software update aims to heighten warnings and alerts for drivers and, notably, restrict the operational areas of basic Autopilot versions.
This recall follows a thorough two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into a series of incidents, some fatal, involving crashes during the use of Tesla’s partially automated driving system, Autopilot. The NHTSA’s findings indicate shortcomings in Autopilot’s method of ensuring driver attention, highlighting a potential for “foreseeable misuse of the system.”
Tesla’s decision to recall and update the software underscores its commitment to addressing safety concerns and improving the functionality of the Autopilot system for enhanced driver and road safety.