High-stakes Miami trial puts Tesla's safety claims under scrutiny
The incident occurred near Key West, Florida, when a Tesla Model S, traveling nearly 70 mph, ran through flashing red lights, a stop sign, and a T-intersection before crashing into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe.
The collision killed Naibel Benavides Leon, who had been stargazing nearby, and seriously injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. She was thrown 75 feet into a wooded area.
The plaintiffs argue that Tesla's driver-assistance feature, Autopilot, should have recognized the vehicle ahead and either warned the driver or slowed down. They claim Tesla's system failed to do so, despite detecting the Tahoe.
According to the lawsuit, the driver, George McGee, relied on Autopilot and was distracted, reaching for a dropped phone when the car crashed. McGee was sued separately, and that case has been settled.
Tesla, however, rejects any blame. In a statement, the company said, "The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology. Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cellphones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver."
Tesla also emphasized that its user manuals instruct drivers to remain alert and ready to take control at all times, noting that its vehicles are not fully autonomous.
What makes this case particularly significant is that U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom has allowed the plaintiffs to seek punitive damages, a rare development in lawsuits against Tesla. In her ruling last month, she dismissed claims of manufacturing defects and negligent misrepresentation but allowed other liability claims to move forward.
"A reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit," Judge Bloom wrote.
The lawsuit contends that Tesla should have restricted the use of Autopilot to major roads for which it was designed, preventing drivers from activating it on smaller, rural roads like the one where the crash occurred. The plaintiffs cite data and video evidence showing the system detected the Tahoe but failed to act appropriately.
Tesla has since updated its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, but concerns remain. In 2023, the company recalled 2.3 million vehicles after federal safety regulators found Autopilot did not do enough to ensure driver attention. Regulators later opened an investigation into whether Tesla had truly addressed the issue.
Despite ongoing scrutiny, Elon Musk continues to tout the capabilities of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology, which he claims allows vehicles to operate independently. Federal officials have cautioned that such claims can mislead drivers into overreliance, potentially leading to crashes. The Full Self-Driving system has been linked to at least three fatal accidents and is under investigation for poor performance in conditions like sun glare and fog.
Tesla is pushing forward with plans to deploy a fleet of driverless robotaxis in the U.S. by the end of next year. Early test runs in Austin, Texas, have been largely successful, though isolated incidents—such as a car veering into the wrong lane—highlight persistent challenges.
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Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Tesla profit plunges in latest quarter as Musk's turn to politics repels buyers
Published Jul 23, 2025 • 4 minute read FILE - A Tesla level three Electric vehicle charger is visible, Feb. 2, 2024, in Kennesaw, Ga., near Atlanta. Photo by Mike Stewart / AP NEW YORK — The fallout from Elon Musk's plunge into politics a year ago is still hammering his Tesla business as both sales and profits dropped sharply again in the latest quarter. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The car company that has faced boycotts for months said Wednesday that revenue dropped 12% and profits slumped 16% in the three months through June as buyers continued to stay away. 'The perception of Elon Musk, its chief executive, has rubbed the sheen right out of what once was a darling and soaring automotive brand,' wrote Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee in an email. Tesla is 'a toxic brand that is inseparable from its leader.' Quarterly profits at the electric vehicle, battery and robotics company fell to $1.17 billion, or 33 cents a share, from $1.4 billion, or 40 cents a share. That was the third quarter in a row that profit dropped. On an adjusted basis, the company said it earned 40 cents a share, matching Wall Street estimates. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Revenue fell from $25.5 billion to $22.5 billion in the April through June period, slightly above Wall Street's forecast. Tesla shares fell 3% in after-hours trading. Read More Musk spent the company's earnings conference call talking less about car sales and more about robotaxis, automated driving software and robotics, which he says is the future of the company. But those businesses are yet to take off, and the gap between promise and profit was apparent in the second quarter. 'It appears management's focus will now shift to robotaxis and away from deliveries growth,' said Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein, referring to car sales. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A big challenge is that potential buyers not just in the U.S. but Europe are still balking at buying Teslas. Musk alienated many in the market for cars in Great Britain, France, Germany and elsewhere by embracing far-right candidates for office on the continent. And rival electric vehicle makers such as China's BYD and Germany's Volkswagen have pounced on the weakness, stealing market share. Tesla began a rollout of its paid pickup robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, and hopes to introduce the driverless cabs in several other cities soon. Musk has said he expects to have hundreds of thousands of the cabs on U.S. roads by the end of next year. In the post-earnings call, Musk said the service will be available to probably 'half of the population of the U.S. by the end of the year — that's at least our goal, subject to regulatory approvals. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are being very cautious. We don't want to take any chances.' 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Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
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Globe and Mail
6 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Tesla Releases Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results
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