&w=3840&q=100)
Tesla failed to prevent misuse of autopilot system, safety expert testifies
Mary 'Missy' Cummings, an engineering professor at George Mason University, told jurors in Miami federal court that the Tesla owner's manual, which contains critical warnings about how the system works, is difficult for drivers to access.
'Do you have any opinion as to why Tesla chose not to geofence its tech in 2019 and create a safe operational domain when other manufacturers were?' Cummings was asked by a lawyer for the plaintiffs, Brett Schreiber.
'I believe they were using that as a way to sell more cars,' said Cummings, who previously served as a senior adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A Tesla representative declined to comment on Cummings' testimony. She is expected to return to the witness stand Thursday when lawyers for Tesla will have a chance to question her.
The trial, which began Monday and is expected to take three weeks, is among the first to test Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's claims that his cars are the safest ever made. It comes at a critical juncture for Tesla, which is making a big push to roll out a robotaxi business as the company stakes its future in part on autonomous driving.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed, and Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured when a Tesla Model S went through a T-intersection in Key Largo and off the pavement, striking their parked Chevrolet Tahoe as they were standing next to it.
The plaintiffs' lawyers allege that Tesla's driver-assistance system was defective and that the company failed to warn users about its limitations. Tesla maintains that the crash was caused by driver error, a defense the company has successfully used to win two previous California trials when Autopilot was blamed for accidents.
George McGee, the driver of the Model S, had engaged the driver-assistance system, but had dropped his mobile phone and wasn't watching the road while reaching for the device on the floorboard.
Lawyers for Angulo and the estate of Benavides Leon told the jury that the collision was a 'preventable tragedy' and that the automated system built into the car failed to respond when it detected the end of the roadway, regardless of how McGee was driving.
They have repeatedly shown jurors augmented video clips captured by cameras on the car that show the system identifying the edge of the road, paint on the roadway indicating a stop sign, the Tahoe parked off road and a pedestrian standing nearby.
But Tesla argues that no technology that was on the market in 2019 would have been able to prevent the crash, and that McGee was fully at fault because he was pressing the accelerator and overriding the vehicle's adaptive cruise control before he went off the road.
Cummings was asked by Schreiber about a letter to NHTSA in which Tesla asserted that 'Autopilot has the most robust set of warnings against driver misuses and abuse of any feature ever deployed in the automotive industry.'
She told the jury, 'I saw no evidence that would back up this claim that they have the most robust set of warnings.'
When Cummings was appointed as a safety adviser for NHTSA in 2021, Musk called her 'extremely biased against Tesla' and Tesla fans signed a petition against her.
Cummings has served as an expert witness in at least two other lawsuits against Tesla related to the Autopilot system, according to court filings.
The professor said McGee was very clear speaking after the accident that he thought this car was his copilot and that it would stop for obstacles in the road. Like many Tesla drivers, she said, McGee felt he could rely on Autopilot to navigate when he dropped his phone.
'The car is doing a good job of driving so I'm going to reach down and pick it up because my copilot is driving,' she said.
The case is Benavides v. Tesla, 1:21-cv-21940, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk shares Tesla's update for car buyers in India
Tesla India recently shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), announcing an update on the availability of Tesla cars in the country. 'Now everyone in India can order directly on our website,' the post read, adding that four cities will get priority delivery. The post was later reshared by CEO Elon Musk . As per Tesla India's post, residents in nearly all states and UTs will be able to order Tesla cars via the official website. These include Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, among others. Tesla cars priority delivery in India As announced by Tesla India, vehicles registered in select cities will be prioritised for delivery initially. These include Mumbai Pune Delhi Gurugram List of states and UTs that can order Tesla cars from website Maharashtra Delhi Haryana Karnataka Telangana Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Assam Bihar Chandigarh Chhattisgarh Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Jammu and Kashmir Goa Gujarat Himachal Pradesh Jharkhand Kerala Ladakh Madhya Pradesh Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Nagaland Odisha Puducherry Punjab Rajasthan Sikkim Tripura Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand West Bengal Tesla Model Y launched in India Elon Musk's Tesla unveiled its premium SUV – Tesla Model Y in India. The EV maker has also revealed prices for its cars, listing the on-road cost of the much-anticipated Model Y starting at Rs 61 lakh. The rear-wheel drive variant will be available at Rs 59.89 lakh while the price of long range rear-wheel drive starts at 67.89 lakhs. As mentioned earlier, Tesla has opened its first showroom in India at Maker Maxity Mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), one of Mumbai's top business areas. The space is called a 'Tesla Experience Centre,' where people can see Tesla's products and technology up close. The showroom has a clean and simple design with a white color theme, matching Tesla's global style. The walls have lightboxes that display Tesla's innovations along with visuals inspired by Indian culture, creating a mix of global and local elements. The project was led by Neeta Sharada, the Chief Architect for Tesla's first showroom in India. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
U.S. stock market futures dip slightly today — is this the calm before the Big Tech earnings storm as Wall Street awaits Tesla, Microsoft, and Alphabet results?
How are stock market futures performing today? Index Current Level Change Trend Dow Futures 44,450 –90 pts 🔻 –0.20% S&P 500 Futures 6,338 –6 pts 🔻 –0.10% Nasdaq Futures 23,310 –30 pts 🔻 –0.13% Russell 2000 2,240 –2 pts 🔻 –0.09% Live Events Which stocks are rising sharply today? Ticker Company Price Change AIRE reAlpha Tech Corp $0.85 🔼 +347% OPEN Opendoor Technologies $3.21 🔼 +42.7% ALAB Astera Labs $121.89 🔼 +19.35% CLF Cleveland-Cliffs $10.66 🔼 +12.45% RXRX Recursion Pharmaceuticals $6.40 🔼 +9.59% Why it matters: Retail traders are driving sharp momentum in speculative names. Astera Labs continues its upward trajectory amid strong AI-sector demand. Which stocks are sliding the most? Ticker Company Price Change MFH Mercurity Fintech $2.20 🔻 –57.4% TWG Top Wealth Group $6.35 🔻 –34.1% ATHR Aether Holdings $10.21 🔻 –21.8% BNED Barnes & Noble Education $8.87 🔻 –21.0% QS QuantumScape $12.52 🔻 –14.5% Context: The steep selloffs in low-volume names reflect growing profit-taking and speculative risk-off behavior. What's driving the market today? 1. Big Tech earnings ahead Microsoft, Alphabet, and Tesla are scheduled to report this week. Traders are pricing in high expectations after strong early results from TSMC and Equifax. Equifax rose 2.5% after announcing a $3 billion buyback and 7% revenue growth. 2. Treasury yields rise again The 10-year yield is near 4.38% , up slightly from last week. , up slightly from last week. Higher yields reduce the present value of future earnings—especially hurting high-growth tech stocks. 3. Tariff concerns linger The August 1 deadline for additional U.S. tariffs is fast approaching. for additional U.S. tariffs is fast approaching. Wall Street is still digesting the shock of the April 'Liberation Day' tariffs, which triggered a sharp pullback. 4. Low volatility… for now The VIX remains near 16.5 , well below panic levels. , well below panic levels. But individual stock volatility (especially tech) is climbing, suggesting undercurrents of instability. 5. Institutional cash levels hit 3.9% According to Bank of America, institutional cash levels are at their lowest since 2021 . . Historically, such levels have preceded short-term pullbacks of 2% or more in the S&P 500. What are investors watching closely? Focus Area Market Impact Earnings Reports Microsoft, Tesla, and Alphabet could swing sentiment Bond Yields If they stay elevated, they'll weigh on equities Tariff Timeline August 1 trade decision is a major wildcard Cash Positioning Too much risk-on could mean sharp reversals Vol-Control Funds De-risking flows may pressure momentum stocks Key Index Data from Monday's Close Index Value Change Year-to-Date S&P 500 6,350.12 🔼 +0.19% +18.4% Nasdaq 100 23,340.51 🔼 +0.52% +27.1% Dow Jones 44,531.92 🔼 +0.04% +9.7% Russell 2000 2,242.89 🔻 –0.40% +4.1% Calm before the earnings storm Bullish investors are looking for strong earnings to extend gains. are looking for strong earnings to extend gains. Bearish traders point to stretched valuations, low cash reserves, and volatility brewing under the surface. What should traders consider now? Watch earnings closely : Tesla, Microsoft, and Alphabet results could set the tone for the rest of the quarter. : Tesla, Microsoft, and Alphabet results could set the tone for the rest of the quarter. Avoid overexposure to mega-caps : The market is top-heavy and vulnerable to negative surprises. : The market is top-heavy and vulnerable to negative surprises. Look for dips in quality names : Morgan Stanley suggests buying selective 5–10% pullbacks. : Morgan Stanley suggests buying selective 5–10% pullbacks. Consider defensives : Healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples may outperform if volatility returns. : Healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples may outperform if volatility returns. Monitor volatility spikes: Stay nimble with exposure as VIX remains deceptively calm. Frequently Asked Questions on U.S. stock market futures today (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel U.S. stock futures traded slightly lower early Tuesday as investors braced for a flurry of earnings from tech giants and monitored rising trade tensions. After a solid run-up over the past few weeks, markets appear to be taking a breather, with futures reflecting a cautious tone across major Street opened the week with caution as stock futures tread water ahead of major Big Tech earnings and rising trade-related concerns. Investors appear hesitant to push markets higher after a recent rally, with fresh volatility potentially lurking just around the futures traded mostly flat early Tuesday, reflecting cautious sentiment:Markets are in wait-and-watch mode as quarterly earnings from tech heavyweights—including Microsoft, Tesla, and Alphabet—take center stage this small-cap and tech-adjacent stocks posted explosive gains in pre-market action:On the flip side, several names are suffering heavy losses due to weak earnings or profit-taking:Markets are showing signs of restraint after weeks of upward momentum. With Big Tech earnings on deck and trade tensions on the rise, investors are hedging bets while staying alert for key data points that could reset risk of early Tuesday,, and, all showing mild weakness ahead of Big Tech are cautious asreport earnings this week, whileandare keeping risk appetite in check.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk's career advice to young professionals in the age of AI is what you would least expect
At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries and eliminating jobs, Elon Musk's career guidance doesn't align with the usual advice from the tech world. Despite being at the forefront of AI development, the billionaire entrepreneur isn't urging young professionals to specialize in data science or machine learning. Instead, he offers something far less expected: he tells them to follow what feels meaningful and useful, even if AI may eventually outperform them. In a recent CNBC interview, Musk reflected on how he advises his own children, some of whom are preparing to enter the workforce. He acknowledged the difficulty of giving career advice in such an unpredictable environment. Rather than pointing them toward safe or high-demand roles, he encourages them to pursue work they enjoy—something they find fulfilling and beneficial to society. Facing AI's Impact Head-On Musk's views carry added weight given his influence on the future of work. As the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and xAI, he's not just a witness to technological change—he's helping drive it. From reusable rockets and electric vehicles to brain–machine interfaces and AI research, Musk's companies are reshaping how we live and work. Yet he admits that even he questions the value of his relentless work. He shared how he sometimes wonders whether the sacrifices he makes—time lost with friends and family—are worth it if AI eventually does it all better. For him, staying motivated in this era means deliberately choosing not to overthink the long-term implications. He emphasized that people should focus on projects that excite them and make a positive difference, regardless of whether machines can replicate those efforts. A Different Kind of Urgency Musk's advice contrasts sharply with warnings from others in the industry. Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, for instance, believes adaptability is the most important trait going forward. Drawing on the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, Kamath points out that 34% of all workplace tasks could be automated by 2030. He urges professionals to continuously upskill and shift away from traditional education models, which he believes are rapidly losing relevance. — nikhilkamathcio (@nikhilkamathcio) The WEF data predicts 92 million jobs could be displaced globally, while 170 million new roles may emerge. However, Kamath warns that only those who constantly learn and evolve will benefit from this Where Kamath stresses survival through learning, Musk focuses on meaning. He raises deeper questions about purpose in a future where AI systems can do everything better, faster, and cheaper. In his view, the real challenge isn't just about career security—it's about staying emotionally and mentally engaged in a world where one's contributions might feel replaceable. For Musk, fulfilment comes not from outperforming machines, but from doing work that aligns with personal interest and social good.
