Autopilot in focus again as Tesla Model 3 crashes in China, killing one

Surveillance footage around the area showed the electric vehicle nearly crashing into an electric bicycle and several cars at the intersection before coming to a complete stop. In addition, the car’s brake lights were not on at the time of the accident, raising suspicions that Autopilot technology was involved in the accident.

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While it has not been confirmed whether Autopilot was on in the deadly Tesla Model 3, advanced driver assistance systems have received renewed attention following the crash. This comes at a time when Autopilot driver-assistance technology is already under sweeps in the United States, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating several accidents in the country involving Tesla electric vehicles equipped with Autopilot. No wonder, recent events in China will add to the headaches for EV makers. Tesla China has promised to fully cooperate with the authorities in the investigation of the accident.

Surveillance footage also showed the Tesla Model 3 driving so fast that the electric car nearly landed front-end after passing a bridge. Its impact on the bus is huge. The local police said in an announcement that the electric car hit three other cars before hitting the bus.

Speaking of this matter, Tesla China has issued a statement calling on the public not to spread unverified information. Tesla China’s request comes as rumors about the crash have surfaced online, with some blaming a potential malfunction of the electric vehicle. “We are very sad about this accident. We fully understand everyone’s concerns about this accident. At present, the local traffic police are investigating the cause of the accident, and we will fully cooperate with relevant departments. We also ask everyone not to believe or spread unverified information,” Tesla China pointed out in a statement.

First published date: Feb 22, 2023 at 12:31pm CST