Tesla: US Department of Justice investigates Autopilot


According to the New York Times, federal agents commissioned by the US Department of Justice demanded documents from Tesla relating to Autopilot and FSD, the manufacturer’s autonomous driving technologies.

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According to an article published by the New York Times on January 31, 2023, federal agents commissioned by the United States Department of Justice demanded that Tesla confidential documents relating to its autonomous driving technology. This seizure was confirmed by Tesla in an annual report filed on Monday with the SEC, the American organization in charge of the regulation and control of the financial markets.

In this document, Tesla made a point of recalling that no investigation into the FSD or the Autopilot had so far resulted in an indictment of the company. “To our knowledge, no government agency has concluded through an ongoing investigation that any wrongdoing has occurred.” The American brand, however, specifies that “if the government decides to take enforcement action,” this could have disastrous consequences on the company’s finances.

Also to read : Tesla – the United States opens a special investigation after two fatal crashes

A survey that adds to a long list

As the American media points out, Tesla did not provide any other details on the ongoing investigation, just like the Department of Justice for that matter. It must be remembered that these investigations launched by the DOJ (Department of Justice) are not new. Several anonymous sources reported in October 2022 that US justice was taking a very close interest in Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD. The goal ? Ensure the security of the technology and determine “whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsubstantiated claims about the capabilities of its self-driving technology.”

This investigation carried out by the American justice is the last of a long series. In August 2021, the NHTSA, the federal agency in charge of traffic safety, opened an investigation into Autopilot after learning of more than 35 accidents (including nine fatalities) in which the system was involved. This investigation covers more than 830,000 Tesla vehicles sold in the United States. Note that the American authorities are not the only ones interested in the technologies of the world leader in electric cars. In February 2022, German authorities opened an official investigation into Autopilot.



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