Tesla Inc. is preparing to defend itself in two upcoming trials that allege the failure of its Autopilot driver assistant feature led to fatal accidents. These trials will be a major test for CEO Elon Musk’s claims about self-driving technology and its crucial role in Tesla’s financial future.
The first trial involves a civil lawsuit accusing Tesla’s Autopilot system of causing a 2019 crash that resulted in a fatality and serious injuries. The second trial revolves around a 2019 crash where Autopilot allegedly failed to prevent a collision with a truck, resulting in another death. Tesla denies liability and blames driver error for both accidents. The outcome of these trials could greatly impact Tesla’s reputation and sales for its Autopilot software.