Tesla is recalling over two million cars in the US due to a defect in its Autopilot driver assistance system, as identified by the US regulator.
This action follows a two-year investigation into accidents that occurred while using the technology.
The recall affects nearly every Tesla sold in the US since Autopilot's introduction in 2015. Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, announced it would address the issue through an "over-the-air" software update, eliminating the need for dealership or garage visits. Despite this, the US regulator still classifies it as a recall.
The UK's Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency stated it is not aware of similar safety issues with Teslas in the UK, noting that UK models do not have the same features as their US counterparts. "Teslas sold in the UK market are not self-driving and are not approved to do so," a spokesperson said, adding that the agency would continue to monitor the situation.
Autopilot is designed to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking but still requires driver input. Tesla's software is intended to ensure drivers remain attentive and use the feature only in appropriate conditions, such as highways. However, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found in its investigation of 956 Tesla crashes that the controls might not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse.
The NHTSA emphasized that automated technology could significantly improve safety but only if used responsibly. It said it would continue to monitor the updated software. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment but agreed to add new features, including additional checks when activating self-driving features, despite not agreeing with the agency's analysis.
This recall follows comments from former Tesla employee Lukasz Krupski, who recently told the BBC he believed the technology was unsafe. Krupski, who won the Blueprint Prize for whistleblowers, said, "I don't think the hardware is ready and the software is ready." He added, "It affects all of us because we are essentially experiments on public roads."
Reacting to the recall, Krupski called it "a step in the right direction" but noted that the problem is not limited to the US, as the hardware is the same in Teslas worldwide.
On Tuesday, Tesla defended Autopilot's safety on X (formerly Twitter), responding to a Washington Post article by stating, "Safety metrics are emphatically stronger when Autopilot is engaged than when not engaged," citing fewer crashes with the system in use.
Jack Stilgoe, an associate professor at University College London who studies autonomous vehicles, criticized Tesla for not spending enough time developing the system initially. "The conventional way of ensuring safety is to check that a car is safe when it leaves the factory," he told the BBC.
Despite this being Tesla's second recall this year, Susannah Streeter from investment company Hargreaves Lansdown believes it won't significantly impact the carmaker's momentum. "This recall of 2 million cars on its own is not likely to seriously quash enthusiasm," she said, noting that recalls are common in the car industry and that Tesla has the financial resources to address the issues.
Tesla has heavily promoted its self-driving technology as crucial for future growth. Goldman Sachs analysts recently estimated that Tesla's most advanced Autopilot, full self-driving, could generate over $50 billion annually by 2030, up from the current $1 billion to $3 billion. In the US, the full self-driving package costs $12,000 or a $199 monthly subscription fee.