Tesla Model

2024

SAP has changed its mind about replacing corporate cars with Tesla electric vehicles

On February 5, 2024, it became known that the German corporation SAP, one of the world's largest suppliers of enterprise management software, refused to purchase Tesla electric vehicles. The reason for the decision is problems with the logistics of Elon Musk's company.

It is said that as of the beginning of 2024, the fleet of corporate vehicles SAP has approximately 29 thousand units. Some of these cars were planned to be replaced with Tesla cars. However, SAP management later decided not to enter into an agreement with Tesla.

SAP refused to purchase Tesla electric vehicles

SAP car park chief Steffen Krautwasser says Tesla is changing prices for its products more often than other automakers, making planning more difficult. In addition, Elon Musk's company often supplies cars ahead of schedule. On the one hand, this allows new vehicles to be quickly put into operation, but, on the other hand, logistics problems arise. SAP said it would remove Tesla from a "list of corporate car suppliers."

Tesla's list prices fluctuate more than other manufacturers, making planning difficult and posing higher business risks to us. From Tesla's point of view, that's understandable, but it creates problems for us, "Krautwasser says.

Tesla has lost some of its big customers, including Hertz. In 2021, the rolling company Hertz announced its intentions to buy 100 thousand Tesla electric vehicles by the end of 2022. However, subsequently Hertz decided to sell 20 thousand used electric vehicles of various brands, which were operated in the United States. The choice is in favour of vehicles with internal combustion engines (petrol and diesel) as they are "more predictable in terms of operating costs."^[1]

Recall of 2.2m defective electric vehicles due to unreadable dashboard information

On February 1, 2024, the US State Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall of approximately 2.2 million Tesla electric vehicles. This is a record-breaking recall program for Elon Musk's company.

The official notification of the regulator notes that the problem is related to the incorrect font size of warning messages on the dashboard of vehicles. It says it makes it difficult to read important information about safety parameters on the on-board display, which increases the risk of a road accident. As of early February 2024, no accidents or injuries caused by the issue were reported.

Approximately 2.2 million Tesla electric vehicles recalled

The recall affects all Tesla-made cars. These are Cybertruck pickup, Model X and Model Y crossovers of the model range until 2024 inclusive, as well as Model S and Model 3 sedans until 2023 model year inclusive. The issue was identified in January 2023 during a routine safety review of Tesla's electric vehicles, it said. It has been found that the font on the warning indicators of the brake system, parking brake and anti-lock system is smaller than required by US federal laws. The regulator concluded that a small font can make it difficult to perceive information, which, in turn, can increase the risk of an accident.

It is reported that as of the beginning of February 2024, at least three car owners contacted Tesla, who had difficulties due to the described problem. Elon Musk's company will release an on-board software update that eliminates this flaw. The update will be distributed wirelessly, so motorists will not have to visit dealerships and repair centers.^[2]

Recall of 200,000 defective electric vehicles due to inoperative camera

On January 23, 2024, the State Administration for Road Safety Control USA (NHTSA) announced the recall of approximately 200 thousand defective. electric vehicles Tesla The problem is due to a malfunction of the rear view camera, which can create emergencies.

The defect affects Model Y, Model S and Model X cars launched in 2023. As of January 22, 2024, more than 80 complaints were received from motorists: the camera does not turn on on their cars when reversing. In general, 199,575 listed electric vehicles are subject to recall. According to Tesla itself, the company shipped 1.81 million cars in 2023. Thus, the problem with the camera was detected in more than 10% of the vehicles sold.

200 thousand defective Tesla electric vehicles recalled

The NHTSA document notes that incorrect operation of the rear view camera is associated with on-board software. The defect appears on cars using the Full Self-Driving 4.0 system with firmware versions 2023.44.30-2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. The malfunction impairs visibility when performing reversing maneuvers. At the same time, it is emphasized that as of the end of January 2024, no road accidents related to the problem were registered.

It is said that Tesla began receiving complaints about problems with the rear-view camera at the end of December 2023 and decided to initiate a recall program on January 12, 2024. All car owners who may be affected by the issue will receive an appropriate email notification by March 22, 2024. To eliminate the defect, Tesla will release a software update that will be distributed via wireless communication. Thus, motorists will not need to visit service centers to perform work.^[3]

2023

Tesla recalls 120 thousand defective electric vehicles. In an accident, the doors open and people fly out of the car

On December 21, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) announced the recall of more than 120 thousand defective electric vehicles. Tesla The problem is related to the possible spontaneous unlocking of doors in the event of a traffic accident.

The official NHTSA notice says that in the event of a crash, the doors of Tesla cars could open, posing an additional risk to the health and lives of passengers. In certain situations, people inside an electric car can fly out of the cabin. This can result in severe injuries and even death. Tesla says there have been no reports of any injuries related to the issue as of Dec. 14, 2023.

The defect affects Tesla Models S and Tesla Models X cars of the 2021-2023 model range. NHTSA said in a statement that due to the possibility of spontaneous door unlocking, these machines do not meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in terms of protection in a side collision. Tesla notes that it first learned about the problem on December 6, 2023 during standard crash tests of its cars.

A total of 120,423 Tesla electric vehicles fall under the recall. In order to eliminate the defect, Ilona Musk will release an on-board software update: the update will be distributed via wireless communication, so car owners will not have to visit service centers. To all motorists whose vehicles are subject to recall, Tesla will send letters with instructions to download the update. Owners can also contact Tesla technical support by phone and ask questions of interest to them.^[4]

Tesla recalls 2m defective electric vehicles over faulty Autopilot

On December 12, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) announced the recall of more than 2 million defective electric vehicles. Tesla The problem is related to Autosteer automatic steering as part of the Autopilot autopilot system.

The Autosteer function in combination with TACC (Traffic-Aware Cruise Control) cruise control in certain conditions allows the car to take over steering, as well as acceleration and braking control. At the same time, the motorist must monitor the traffic situation and remain ready to take control in case of any danger. Tesla Autopilot notifies you of the need to switch to manual driving with visual and audible signals.

However, NHTSA concluded that those alarms that the system gives in case of danger may not be enough to encourage the driver to quickly take control. And therefore, the risk of a traffic accident increases, which poses a threat to the health and life of both the owner of the electric car and other road users.

The recall includes Model S cars made in 2012-2023, Model X 2016-2023, Model 3, which rolled off the assembly line in 2017-2023, and Model Y 2020-2023. In total, the problem affects 2,031,220 electric vehicles equipped with the Autosteer system. For all these vehicles, Tesla, as stated in the NHTSA notification, will release an on-board software update that, among other things, will increase the visibility and intensity of alarms. The free update will be distributed via wireless communication, so motorists will not have to visit service centers.^[5]

Tesla owners pay $19,000 to replace batteries

Electric car owners face huge Tesla costs to replace the battery pack after the warranty period expires. So, one of the owners of Model S at the end of November 2023 reported that the repair cost him more than $19 thousand.

The motorist said that the need to replace the battery module arose just four months after the end of the warranty. At that time, his Model S electric car, manufactured in 2015, traveled a total of 163 thousand miles (approximately 260 thousand km). At the same time, the range on full charge was reduced from 435 to 346 km: it was this circumstance that prompted the owner to contact the Tesla service center to replace the battery pack. The cost of work was $19 346.06, of which $18 thousand cost the battery module itself with a capacity of 90 kVt·ch.

Be careful. You can save on fuel or oil changes, but be sure to save money on the battery. The warranty expired four months ago, and I need a new battery pack on the 2015 Model S, the motorist wrote.

It is emphasized that the car owner ordered the installation of a new battery module, and not a restored one. If he preferred the second option, he could save a significant amount. But the choice in favor of the new product is dictated by the fact that Tesla provided a four-year warranty or 80 thousand km of mileage for this unit.

On the one hand, say adherents of cars with a traditional internal combustion engine, the cost of replacing the battery pack of an electric car can negate any savings in fuel and oil. But, on the other hand, in premium cars with ICE, replacing the engine in case of failure can also cost tens of thousands of dollars.^[6]

Shock: Tesla set commission for charging electric vehicles over 90%

On November 22, 2023, it became known that Tesla introduced a new commission for owners of electric cars using Supercharger fast charging stations. Motorists will have to pay an extra fee if they continue to replenish their energy supply after the battery pack of the machine has exceeded 90%. Read more here.

Recall of 55,000 defective electric vehicles due to brake problems

On October 11, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) announced that the company is Tesla recalling approximately 55 thousand defective electric vehicles Model X. These crossovers have a problem with the braking system.

The notice released says defective vehicles may not have an indicator on light informing them of low brake fluid levels. The problem can lead to a change in the response of the brake pedal, as well as "reduce braking efficiency and increase the risk of an accident." The defect was first identified on September 19, 2023. A subsequent check showed that it was due to an incorrect setting of the threshold range of the controller, which determines the low level of brake fluid.

In total, 54,676 Model X electric vehicles of 2021-2023 model years are subject to recall. NHTSA documentation notes that marriage affects 98% of such machines. As of October 10, 2023, Tesla is not aware of any traffic accidents, injuries or fatal incidents that could be related to the specified defect.

To fix the problem, Tesla will remotely update the onboard software on Model X machines. The error was fixed in firmware 2023.32.7 and later versions of the software. Owners of electric vehicles that have fallen under the recall campaign do not need to visit service centers or perform any other actions. Customers will be notified of the update by email or other means of communication. It is also said that for Tesla cars using beta versions of the FSD (Full Self-Driving) autopilot system, the corresponding fix will be included in the next planned release of the software.^[7]

Tesla caught using special software that overestimates the range of electric vehicles

On July 2, 2023, the District Court for the Northern District USA California received a class action lawsuit against. Tesla Car owners accuse the company Elona Musk of artificially overestimating the estimated range of electric vehicles on a single charge of the battery pack.

A Reuters investigation showed that Tesla, on behalf of Musk himself, introduced special software algorithms that increase the forecast range indicator. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of three electric car owners, accuses Tesla of violating warranty terms as well as fraud and unfair competition. The fact is that statements about a large power reserve could become one of the factors that prompted consumers to purchase Tesla electric cars.

If Tesla were to advertise its electric cars honestly, buyers would either not purchase them or pay significantly less for them, the lawsuit says.

James Porter, owner of the Model Y from Petaluma, California, and one of the initiators of the proceedings, claims in a statement of claim that in one trip "the car's range has decreased by about 182 miles (more than 290 km), while in fact he traveled only 92 miles." In other words, the forecast range was initially almost doubled.

The plaintiffs offer to join the proceedings to other motorists who have purchased a new Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model Y or Model X electric car. This process could result in serious reputational and financial problems for Elon Musk's company. In particular, Tesla faces penalties for misleading consumers and anti-competitive behavior. In addition, the plaintiffs demand compensation for damage, but the exact amount is not named. The company itself does not comment on the situation in any way.^[8]

Tesla electric cars have a broken steering wheel. There are more and more complaints

On August 1, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) announced the launch of an investigation into. Tesla The reason was the complaints of car owners about problems with the wheel, which may fail.

It is said that the defect could potentially affect 280,000 new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. Owners of some of these cars talk about a sudden loss of steering or a sharp decrease in its efficiency. NHTSA has received at least 12 complaints about the issue. In one case, this led to a traffic accident: the driver, having lost control of the car, crashed into a tree.

The owner of Tesla Model Y in Alpharetta (Georgia) in June 2023 reported that his two-week electric car when leaving the shopping center parking lot "suddenly stopped turning." Another Tesla Model Y owner said that his car, which was not even a month after the purchase, "the steering wheel unexpectedly jerked hard to the right and issued a thud," and a warning appeared on the dashboard that the steering gain was faulty and the error code was displayed. The driver turned to the Tesla service center, where he was informed that the company was already aware of this problem. A complete replacement of the steering rack may be required to correct the defect, but there are difficulties with the supply of appropriate spare parts.

At the same time, the driver in Honolulu said that a week after buying a Tesla electric car, the steering wheel began to spontaneously lock. This situation was observed six times, after which the car was sent to a service center. It is possible that according to the results of the NHTSA investigation, Elon Musk's company will have to initiate a large-scale program for recalling defective electric vehicles. Tesla itself does not comment on the situation.^[9]

Tesla bans customers from complaining about low EV range

About a decade ago, Tesla began to inflate the range of its electric vehicles from a fully charged battery pack for marketing purposes. This is stated in the journalistic investigation Reuters, the results of which were published on July 27, 2023.

To falsify data, as noted, special software algorithms are used. In particular, the most optimistic forecast is given at a 100 percent battery level. When the figure drops to 50%, the electric car's on-board computer begins to produce a more realistic estimate of the remaining range. Moreover, a special "protective buffer" is provided, which allows you to travel another 24 km after a warning about the discharge of the battery pack appears on the dashboard.

It is said that the directive on the creation of these software algorithms came directly from the head of Tesla Elon Musk. However, the discrepancy between the real power reserve and the declared values ​ ​ led to the fact that an avalanche of complaints from dissatisfied car owners hit Tesla. As a result, in the summer of 2022, the company formed a special "sabotage team" in Las Vegas, which was responsible for canceling records for the maintenance of electric vehicles. it is reported that each such procedure costs Tesla approximately $1000. In addition, the load on service centers increases significantly.

After the next update of the mobile application, Tesla deprived car owners of the opportunity to sign up for maintenance centers if their complaints are related to forecast performance indicators. Customers can only leave a request for a company employee to call back to resolve the issue. However, due to the huge number of such appeals, motorists have to wait for several days.^[10]

The cost of replacing batteries in Tesla turned out to be twice as high as Musk said - $20 thousand.

In mid-July 2023, data appeared on the cost of replacing the battery pack in. electric vehicles Tesla It turned out that this service will cost about $20 thousand - this is twice the figure announced by the head of the company. Elon Musk

According to Recurrent estimates, the cost of installing a new battery module in a Tesla car varies from $5,000 to $20,000 - depending on the model. Musk in 2019 said that the replacement will cost owners between $5,000 and $10,000. Battery life depends on many factors: this is, in particular, the charging method, vehicle operating conditions, temperature conditions, etc.

It is noted that it is not common to change the battery pack in Tesla electric vehicles. Musk's company guarantees 150 thousand miles (approximately 240 thousand km) or 8 years, whichever comes first. According to the results of the Recent study, the car is disposed of after about 200 thousand miles of mileage in the United States and about 150 thousand miles in Europe. In other words, Tesla batteries are designed for almost the entire period of operation of the vehicle.

In addition, technologies for the production of batteries for electric vehicles are constantly being improved. In particular, Tesla is working to increase the energy storage density, which allows you to reduce the weight of the blocks and increase the range on a single charge. At the same time, improving the chemical composition of the components makes it possible to extend the service life of the power sources. Tesla says that the new type of elements are cheaper to manufacture, and therefore the cost of replacing the battery pack can also be reduced. However, in general, it is batteries that are one of the most expensive components of electric vehicles.^[11]

The number of fatal accidents involving Tesla autopilot has grown 6 times

In early June 2023, it became known the sharply increased number of accidents involving cars Tesla with the Tesla Autopilot driver assistance system. The number of deaths and serious injuries also increased significantly. In June 2022, only three fatal autopilot accidents were reported, and a year later the number of such cases increased to 17. The total number of accidents involving Tesla cars when using the Autopilot system has reached 736 accidents since 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. USA More. here

Recall of defective cars due to falling off steering wheel

On May 30, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) issued a recall notice for Tesla Model Y electric crossovers. Owners of defective cars may face loss of steering, which threatens a serious traffic accident.

It is said that an unfixed mount can cause the steering wheel to detach from the steering column. At the same time, Tesla emphasizes that the company is not aware of any incidents or accidents related to this defect. In addition, no cases of "complete rudder disconnection" have been reported. However, Elon Musk's company reports that at least five owners of Model Y electric vehicles have indicated a problem: the corresponding appeals were registered between November 12, 2022 and April 26, 2023. And on May 4, 2023, one of the Tesla service specialists discovered during the repair of the driver's seat in the Model Y car that the steering wheel was simply hanging out. After that, an audit was initiated, during which the company analyzed the documents on the production and maintenance of the machine.

137 cars produced from June 23, 2022 to May 1, 2023 are subject to recall. Tesla service center specialists will inspect such machines for a malfunction and, if necessary, replace the steering wheel fasteners, as well as make sure that the installation is correct.

In addition, Tesla says that at the software and hardware levels, it has updated the production installation, which is used when attaching the steering wheel to the steering column. An additional briefing of assembly line employees was also carried out. All work to eliminate the defect will be carried out free of charge for car owners.^[12]

Thousands of complaints about driver assistance system leaked

On May 25, 2023, it became known that an anonymous informant handed over 100 GB of Tesla service files to the German edition of Handelsblatt, which, among other things, refer to thousands of complaints from motorists about self-driving systems in Elon Musk's electric vehicles.

In total, approximately 23 thousand internal Tesla documents were analyzed, which were leaked by a company employee. Between 2015 and March 2022, Tesla customers reported more than 2,400 problems with self-acceleration and 1,500 problems with automatic braking in the company's cars. In particular, 139 cases of unintentional emergency braking are reported. Another 383 car owners announced "phantom stops" due to false collision warnings.

Some of the incidents recorded include a description of how Tesla's electric vehicles suddenly slow down or accelerate dramatically. Some drivers in such situations were able to gain control of their vehicle, but others "ended up in a ditch, crashed into obstacles or into oncoming cars." In other words, Tesla's autopilot can pose a real threat to the health and lives of drivers and passengers, as well as other road users. Most of the incidents described were recorded in the USA, Europe and Asia

Each entry in the disclosed documents is accompanied by a note marked in bold: it says that information can be transmitted to the client only orally. Such information, according to Tesla's policy, should not be provided to motorists either by e-mail or in the form of voice messages. Handelsblatt employees contacted dozens of customers from different countries - all confirmed information from Tesla files. At the same time, motorists note that Tesla is not too interested in solving problems and is more concerned with maintaining reputation.^[13]

Defective electric vehicle recall due to crumbling suspension

At the end of March 2023, Tesla initiated another program to recall its electric vehicles. This time, the action affects certain instances of Model 3 that have identified suspension problems.

As stated on the website of the State Road Safety Control Administration (USA NHTSA), the defect is present in cars manufactured between January 2018 and March 2019. Some electric vehicles may weaken the fastener that fixes the side rods of the front suspension on the subframe. This can lead to a loss of control over the car, which will provoke the risk of a traffic accident.

The front suspension transverse thrust on Model 3 cars is attached to the subframe using two mounts. There are customer complaints that this fastening may weaken over time. As a result, there is a possibility of separating the lateral thrust from the subframe, the NHTSA notice says.

The American electric car maker says it is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to the issue. However, some customers complain about extraneous noises coming from the front suspension. 422 Model 3 copies fall under the recall. Elon Musk's company will diagnose these machines and, if necessary, perform free repair work. This recall is a continuation of a similar action from 2021, when almost 2,800 cars produced in the period from 2019 to 2021 revealed a weakening of the attachments of the suspension levers.

It is estimated that Tesla cars have responded 19 times throughout 2022, affecting more than 3.7 million vehicles in total. At the same time, in 12 of these campaigns, the identified defects were corrected using bot software updates delivered via wireless communication.^[14]

Tesla employees share with each other private records of car owners from cameras built into cars

In early April 2023, it became known that recordings from the on-board cameras of Tesla electric vehicles regularly fall at the disposal of employees of this automaker. Some of these videos can threaten the privacy of vehicle owners and violate their privacy rights.

Elon Musk's company says cameras in Tesla cars are solely for the safety and operation of Autopilot. But, according to Reuters, at least during 2019-2022. Employees of the company shared such records with each other through the corporate messaging system. Some videos showed funny situations with animals, while others recorded various incidents and traffic accidents. For example, a video from 2021 shows how a Tesla car, moving at high speed in a residential area, hit a child riding a bicycle.

One former Tesla employee said some of the recordings were made while the vehicles were in the parking lot, including in the owners' garages. So, the company's employees discovered a video of the unique Lotus Esprit "submarine" nicknamed "Wet Nelly": this car appeared in the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me." As it turned out, the owner of Wet Nelly is Tesla CEO Elon Musk himself, who bought it for about $968 thousand at an auction in 2013.

The dissemination of such records can be seen as an invasion of privacy. Moreover, Tesla employees told Reuters that there is a way to determine the coordinates of the place where this or that video material was filmed. And this theoretically makes it possible to identify the car owner. Thus, the records can be used for blackmail or other fraudulent activities.^[15]

Tesla recalls 360,000 defective electric vehicles over faulty autopilot

On February 16, 2023, Tesla announced the recall of more than 360,000 of its electric vehicles due to faulty software. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explained that we are talking about software that allows an electric car to exceed the maximum permitted speed and pass intersections in an illegal or unpredictable way. The department added that the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta system may not respond satisfactorily to changes in the established speed limits or not fully take into account speeding by the driver.

Tesla disagreed with NHTSA's statement and said it was unknown when the company's software resulted in injuries or deaths. Nevertheless, the manufacturer will be forced to recall about 362 thousand cars in the United States for software updates.

The word "feedback" for a wireless software update is anachronistic and simply incorrect! With each update of the new version of FSD Beta software, it begins to think better, "commented Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The group of affected cars as of February 16, 2023 included the following years and models: 2016-2023 Model S and Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y, equipped or awaiting installation of FSD Beta.

According to The Verge, the recall will be the release of a software update from Tesla, which will be installed free of charge in all of the above cars. Physically remove electric cars from owners, or from stores will not have to. On February 17, 2023, Tesla engineers continue customer beta testing of FSD in the hope of completing development in 2023, according to The Verge, leading from the fields suggests that the system is still very far from perfect.^[16]

Tesla seriously smeared by creating an advertising video about its autopilot

In mid-January 2023, it became known that Tesla had falsified advertisements for autopilot capabilities in its electric vehicles. The video, released in 2016, turned out to be staged.

According to Reuters, information about the commercial was disclosed by Tesla Autopilot Software Director Ashok Elluswamy as part of a lawsuit over a fatal accident in 2018. Then a Tesla Model X with an activated autopilot system crashed into a bump stop and caught fire, and a 38-year-old man behind the wheel, a former Apple employee, died.

The Tesla video, which was released in October 2016, showed the movement of the Model X electric car without the participation of the driver. Then it was said that "the person in the driver's seat is solely for legal reasons," and the car is driving itself. But, according to Elluswamy's statements, Tesla actually misled consumers when creating the video. To record the video, a pre-developed route was used, information about which was entered into the on-board computer. At the wheel of the car was a driver who periodically took control. When trying to show that a Model X could park without a driver, the test vehicle, Elluswamy said, crashed into a fence in a Tesla parking lot. Moreover, the electric car at that time could not independently brake and accelerate depending on the traffic lights, despite the fact that such functions were demonstrated in the video.

In other words, Tesla's autopilot was not capable of dynamic route planning. As Ashok Elluswamy noted, the purpose of the video was not to show what was available to customers in 2016, but to demonstrate the theoretical capabilities of the autopilot complex.^[17]

Real range overestimation by 50%

In early January 2023, the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced a fine of 2.85 billion won ($2.2 million) on Tesla for not disclosing information about the real range of electric vehicles at low air temperatures.

Tesla exaggerated the range of its cars on a single charge, their fuel efficiency compared to gasoline cars, as well as the performance of its Superchargers chargers on its official website from August 2019 until recently, the South Korean antitrust regulator said in early January 2023.

According to the KFTC, in cold weather, Tesla electric cars travel 50.5% less distance without recharging compared to the indicators advertised by the manufacturer on the Internet.

Studies conducted in South Korea have shown that the range of all electric vehicles can be significantly reduced in colder weather, mainly because the battery used to power these cars also wastes energy to heat the air in the cabin and heat the seats and glasses. A local consumer group said in 2021 that in cold weather, the range of most electric vehicles is reduced by 40%, and the largest drop is in Tesla electric cars.

A study by Canadian telematics provider Geotab of 4,200 connected electric vehicles of all brands also found that most cold weather models have the same reduction in range, mainly because the battery is also used to heat the cabin. At temperatures just above 20 degrees Celsius, on average, the actual driving range exceeded the declared range, but at minus 15 degrees, electric vehicles on average provided only 54% of the nominal range.^[18]

Mass accident in the largest tunnel in the world. Autopilot is to blame

At the end electric vehicle Tesla San Francisco of December 2022, the driver made a mass accident in which 9 people were injured of varying severity. The Government USA is investigating the responsibility of the driver of the electric car (). autopilot Full Self-Driving

The Tesla Model S, according to The Register, suddenly slowed down from the installed 89 km per hour to 33 km per hour, causing numerous collisions with seven other cars. The incident took place in the Yerba Buena Tunnel, which is the largest in the world. Nine people were injured, one of them required hospitalization.

A California Highway Patrol report said the driver said the vehicle was in "Full Self-Driving" mode at the time of the crash. Police and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigators are investigating an incident that closed two lanes of the bridge for several hours and required four ambulances to remove the victims.

Police are investigating whether the controversial so-called software was included and it is possible that it was the cause of the accident. However, Tesla promised to conduct a full internal investigation into the incident. On December 26, 2022, the US police studied many videos from road cameras and DVRs, but this did not give any result: it became clearer who actually drove the car.

According to The Register, the American authorities are investigating Tesla due to the fact that the company allegedly misleads drivers about the effectiveness of its self-driving software. Tesla cars account for more than 70% of crashes involving software, according to NHTSA.^[19]

Recall of 435,000 defective electric vehicles

On December 1, 2022, the State Administration of Market Regulation of China (SAMR) announced that Tesla was recalling approximately 435 thousand more defective cars on the local market.

This time, the problem concerns the overall lights at the back of electric vehicles: the lights may not light up, which is due to errors in the operation of the onboard software. In total, 142,277 Model 3 sedans, which were produced in China from December 27, 2020 to November 7, 2022, are subject to recall. In addition, the defect affects 292,855 Model Y crossovers released from January 1, 2021 to November 11, 2022.

The SAMR report says that the failure of the rear overall lights impairs the visibility of the car in the dark, which will increase the risk of road accidents and pose a safety risk to other road users. It is noted that due to a problem with the initialization of internal parameters during the process of waking up the vehicle, the lights may not light up from both one and two sides of the car.

To fix the malfunction, Tesla will remotely (OTA) distribute a software update for defective electric vehicles. The company will inform the owners of the recalled machines about the need to install the update by e-mail, via SMS or in another way. Tesla will invite motorists whose electric cars cannot be updated remotely to service centers. All work will be carried out free of charge.

Before the problem is fixed, drivers must drive defective cars with increased caution. The software needs to be updated as soon as possible after receiving a recall notice, the Chinese regulator said in a notice.[20]

Recall of 80 thousand defective electric vehicles

On November 25, 2022, the State Administration of Market Regulation of China (SAMR) announced the recall of more than 80 thousand Tesla electric vehicles of various models. The identified problems are related to on-board software and seat belts.

Elon Musk is recalling a total of 67,698 Model S and Model X cars imported to the Chinese market. These cars, manufactured between September 25, 2013 and November 21, 2020, have software flaws that may lead to incorrect operation of batteries. In order to fix the problem, Tesla will update the software on these cars for free.

In addition, 2,736 Model 3 cars imported into China, which rolled off the assembly line from January 12, 2019 to November 22, 2019, as well as 10,127 such cars manufactured directly in China, were recalled. In the case of this model, the problem is related to the operation of seat belts: Tesla specialists will perform checks and, if necessary, carry out repair operations. All work will be carried out free of charge for owners.

Tesla itself does not comment on the situation in any way. But this is not the first time Tesla has had to recall cars sold in the Chinese market. In May 2022, the American company recalled more than 100,000 cars due to the risk of overheating.

China is one of the most important markets for Tesla. Elon Musk's company has a large manufacturing plant in Shanghai, and sales of electric vehicles in the Chinese market are growing. However, Tesla is under increasing pressure from local competitors such as Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto. In October 2022, Tesla even cut the prices of the Model 3 and Model Y in China after raising them due to higher costs for materials and components.^[21]

Recall of 321 thousand defective cars due to problems associated with the work of lighting equipment in the back

On November 19, 2022, it became known that Tesla was recalling more than 300 thousand cars due to problems associated with the work of lighting equipment in the rear.

In a statement sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the electric car maker said the recall was related to the operation of "taillights." The recall program applies to some Saa62023 model year and Model Y vehicles, which relate to the 2020-2023 release options.

The study of the problem showed that in rare cases, headlights may not work periodically due to an error that may be associated with false detection of a malfunction during the car's wake-up process. According to Tesla, the company received at least three reports on this problem from the vehicle's onboard system. These errors, apparently, will be eliminated within the framework of warranty obligations.

Tesla said the recall is related to complaints from customers who complained about a lighting malfunction at the back of the vehicle. Nothing is said about the causes of the malfunction. But there was a case when the owner of a Tesla Model Y had a serious accident: then it was said that there could be problems with autopilot. However, one of the family members of the victim said that the motorist did not cope with the brakes, and the work of the "lights" in the back raises questions.

The study of the problem showed that in rare cases, the headlights may not work periodically due to a malfunction, which is provoked by the detection of a false error during the process of waking up the car, Tesla said in a statement.

Tesla announced that it intends to release a software update for its cars that will fix this problem. 321 thousand cars are subject to recall. It also said there were no reports of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.^[22]

Due to a violation of the autopilot, two people died and three more were injured

On November 5, 2022, a tragic incident involving a Tesla Model Y electric car occurred in the Chinese province of Guangdong: two people died and three more were injured of varying severity.

A video from surveillance cameras is already available on the Internet, showing the entire series of events. It can be seen that at first Tesla Model Y tries to park, but then for some reason returns to the roadway and begins to quickly gain speed. Racing along the road with one lane each way, the vehicle hits a cyclist and people, then makes a violent collision with another vehicle and eventually crashes into a shop window. The duration of the entire incident is about 30 seconds, in which the car drove approximately 2.6 km.

A 55-year-old man was driving an electric car. One of his family members reported that the motorist had problems with the brake pedal. He suffered injuries but survived.

As told in Tesla, onboard magazines say that the driver did not press the brake pedal. At the same time, the accelerator pedal was pressed for "a significant part" of the fatal race. Video from the cameras confirms that the brake lights in the back of the car did not light up. Guangdong province police will work with a third-party agency to find out the true cause of the accident. Tesla has promised to provide all necessary assistance.

Meanwhile, there were reports on the Web that Tesla's autopilot "went crazy" during the incident. In addition, rumors are circulating on the topic of spontaneous acceleration of the car. Tesla has faced allegations of brake pedal malfunction in its models in the past, including from a Chinese buyer. Complaints also came from consumers in. USA^[23]

Recall of 40 thousand cars due to defects in steering

On November 8, 2022, it became known about the next major recall of Tesla electric vehicles. This time, the service campaign affected approximately 40,000 Model S sedans and Model X crossovers released from 2017 to 2021. The power steering may stop working in them when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

{{quote 'Failure of the power steering may require more force to be applied on the steering wheel, especially at low speeds, raising the risk of a road accident, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said USA in a statement. }}

As specified in Tesla, the company is aware of 314 cases of this malfunction in cars in the United States. At the same time, as the automaker emphasized, there is no information about any injuries or deaths associated with this marriage.

Tesla added that by November 1, 2022, more than 97% of recalled cars had already had a software update that solves the steering problem.

As noted by Reuters on November 8, 2022, since the beginning of 2022, Tesla has conducted 17 recall campaigns, covering about 3.4 million cars.

So, in November 2022, the American company announced the recall of 53 Model S cars of 2021 in the United States due to the fact that rear-view mirrors were created for the European market and are not suitable for the American one. It is noted that such mirrors were installed during visits by motorists to service centers in the United States.

At the end of October 2022, more than 24 thousand Model 3 sedans fell under the recall due to the fact that the buckle of the rear left seat belt may be incorrectly fastened in them and the fastening of the central seat belt is broken. Cars made from 2017 to 2022 are subject to repair^[24]

Recall of another 1.1 million defective cars due to clinging windows

On September 22, 2022, it became known that Tesla was recalling almost 1.1 million cars in the United States after the company discovered a defect that could cause windows to pinch a person's fingers when closed.

Windows should stop if they detect an obstacle in their path, but Tesla said testing has identified a possible problem in the windows of some models. cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was a violation of federal safety standards for electric windows. Tesla said it would be able to fix the problem with a software update to be installed over the internet and that car owners would not need to bring their cars for service.

Tesla said in a statement sent to U.S. federal safety regulators that the company is not aware of any injuries or deaths related to the issue and that Tesla detected the problem during production tests in August 2022. Starting September 13, 2022, cars in production and pre-sale received a software update that installs the windows to work in accordance with the requirements, the company said in documents.

The recall applies to some 2017-2022 Model 3 sedans and some 2020 and 2021 Model Y SUVs. Also, some Model S sedans and Model X SUVs of 2021 and 2022 fall under the recall.

Tesla has already recalled cars several times, during which NHTSA ordered it to make changes to the design of the car. Unlike these reviews, the problem with windows is due to software flaws.^[25]

Tesla autopilot sees no child pedestrians

In early August 2022, researchers from The Dawn Project conducted a test to determine by Tesla autopilot various stationary objects. In a video published on a YouTube channel, an electronics-driven car does not notice the child's dummy and knocks him down several times. Read more here.

Start charging car owners for using the navigator

In July 2022, Tesla began taking money from drivers for using the navigator. The innovation applies to electric cars that were released after July 20, 2022. Prior to that, Tesla introduced a fee to use Supercharger fast charging, which was initially free.

German authorities reported 59 thousand defective Tesla electric vehicles with faulty software

On July 3, 2022, the German traffic regulator Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) demanded that Tesla recall more than 59 thousand electric vehicles due to a software problem.

According to Reuters, on June 29, 2022, KBA published a warning on its website notifying Tesla Model Y and 3 owners of an eCall security error on these electric vehicles. Failure prevents the system from automatically calling emergency services in the event of a serious accident.

KBA said the fault affects 59,129 electric vehicles worldwide, including Model Y crossovers produced at the manufacturer's newly opened Gigafactory plant in Berlin. German media first reported the warning on June 2, 2022. The KBA did not specify how many electric vehicles with this malfunction were registered in Germany.

The recall of electric vehicles is just one issue for the chief Elona Musk executive officer after Tesla in July 2, 2022, said it delivered 17.9% fewer electric vehicles in the fiscal second quarter of 2022 than in the first quarter of 2022, as a production halt in related to China COVID 19 disrupted its production and supply chain.

Prior to that recall, three of Tesla's 11 EV recalls in 2022 were for software issues. In May 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration USA (NHTSA) announced the recall of about 130 thousand electric vehicles due to a malfunction that could lead to overheating of the infotainment system in Tesla's 2021 and 2022 electric vehicles.

In addition, NHTSA in early June 2022 expanded its investigation into 830 thousand Tesla electric vehicles with an improved Autopilot driver assistance system, which is a mandatory step to justify the need for a recall.^[26]

In the United States, 273 accidents with Tesla autopilot occurred in a year. Most fatal

From the beginning of 2021 to June 2022, 273 accidents occurred in the United States involving Tesla electric vehicles, which were moving in autopilot mode at the time of the accident. Most of the incidents were fatal. This was reported in the American National Administration of Road Safety (NHTSA).

According to Ars Technica, the regulator's report provides the clearest picture yet of how modern advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) from Tesla and other companies operate on US roads. ADAS systems can automate car functions such as control, braking and acceleration, but do not make the car fully autonomous.

The study is part of a broader U.S. government effort to explore the risks and benefits of ADAS features, which are becoming more common and are encouraging drivers to pass on an increasing number of driving tasks, from parking to lane changes.

Between July 2021 and May 15, 2022, automakers reported 392 accidents related to ADAS. Tesla accounted for three-quarters of all crashes involving ADAS systems - 273 crashes. Honda was in second place with 90 crashes. Ford Toyota Subaru - 10, - 5 и - 4. Seven other automakers reported three incidents or fewer.

Some of these incidents involved other vehicles colliding with the automaker's vehicles equipped with the ADAS system. In addition, Tesla is under regulatory scrutiny after a series of crashes in which cars with Autopilot function crashed into stopped emergency vehicles.

Many accidents involving ADAS are caused by abuse of the system, according to the report. While Tesla warns drivers to be extremely careful, safety experts criticize Autopilot for encouraging distracted driving. Videos have appeared many times online showing drivers sleeping or otherwise abusing Tesla's system.

However, without information about how many cars equipped with the ADAS system are on the roads of each manufacturer and how many kilometers they travel, it is impossible to say whether one system fails more often than the other.

NHTSA also warned that some manufacturers may have easier access to traffic accident data, which could affect the data. Some crashes may have gone unregistered and others may have been accounted for twice if they involved multiple vehicles with ADAS systems, NHTSA said.^[27]

US authorities found that the autopilot of Tesla cars turns off a second before the accident

In early June 2022, the US authorities checked Tesla cars and came to the conclusion that in an accident, autopilot turns off a second before the collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration intends USA to expand the investigation and check 830 thousand Tesla cars from all four model series.

During the investigation, experts from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) plan to study how much autopilot and associated Tesla systems can undermine the effectiveness of control over the driver's car.

In the next stage, additional tests will be carried out, as well as an analysis of road accidents. This is necessary to study the degree to which autopilot and related systems can aggravate the human factor or behavioral safety risks, undermining the effectiveness of driver control, according to documents published on the official website.

NHTSA is also expanding the number of Tesla vehicles that could be affected by the investigation from 765,000 to 830,000. The investigation covers Tesla Models S, X, 3 and Y vehicles launched from 2014 to 2021.

A U.S. state department is investigating 16 crashes in which Tesla owners using the Autopilot system crashed into stationary emergency vehicles, resulting in 15 injuries and one fatality. Most of these incidents occurred after dark, with the software ignoring environmental controls, including warning lights, flares, cones and an arrow light board. The agency requests data on the kilometers traveled, as well as reports on accidents. Separately, NHTSA collects traffic accident data from a broader group of companies that produce driver assistance systems and fully autonomous vehicles.

In its preliminary report, NHTSA said most of the crashes involved emergency vehicles that were visible to the driver on average eight seconds before the crash. The regulator found at least 16 cases in which the autopilot turned off a second before the collision. NHTSA suspects that the system was specifically designed to shut down when an imminent accident is detected.^[28]

Recall of 107 thousand defective cars due to charging problems

In mid-May 2022, Tesla initiated the recall of more than 107 thousand cars produced at the Gigafactory plant in Shanghai from October 19, 2021 to April 26, 2022. The service campaign is being conducted due to technical problems that pose a security risk.

According to a statement by the State Administration for Market Regulation in China, the recall will be officially launched on May 23, 2022. According to the statement of the department, the owners of Chinese Tesla cars, whose cars could not receive the software update, then users need to contact the manufacturer of electric vehicles so that the company can update their cars manually.

Like another software-based recall conducted USA by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in early 2022, Tesla's Chinese recall is also related to the problem of overheating the cars' central touchscreens. According to the State Administration for Market Regulation of China, the central processor of the affected Model 3 and Model Y models may not cool sufficiently when preparing the car for direct current fast charging or during it. This could cause the infotainment systems of the affected vehicles to run slowly. In more complex cases, the system may reboot, and features such as reverse camera, drive settings, and gear indicators may be temporarily unavailable. Such problems can lead to an increased risk of collisions.

Tesla owners affected by the recall will also not need to pay any fees related to fixing their cars. Tesla will update the recalled cars to software version 2022.12.3.3 or later, which should eliminate the problem of overheating the infotainment system.^[29]

Recall of 48 thousand defective cars due to a problem with displaying speed on the dashboard

In early May 2022 Tesla , it announced the recall of 48,184 cars, this time due to a problem with the display of speed on the dashboard on some models, such as the 2018-2022 Model 3 Performance. Affected vehicles are expected to be fixed with an update being installed "over software the air."

The driver's speed may not be displayed on the speedometer when the car is in Track Mode, raising the risk of an accident, the official recall said. Because of this problem, cars do not meet the requirements of the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard under - Control and Displays.

The recall applies to cars from 2018 to 2022 model year. The company said a firmware update released in December 2021 inadvertently removed the speed indicator from the user interface. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said these vehicles do not meet the federal vehicle safety standard, and if drivers do not know how fast they are driving, it could increase the risk of accidents on the road.

Tesla's Track Mode gives the driver even more control over the car, allowing different settings to be adjusted. The user can adjust the handling, traction control and regenerative braking of the car. These settings can improve the handling and acceleration of the car when passing corners. In Track Mode, the user can also change the balance of the car in favor of all-rear drive. In addition to being able to configure these parameters, in mode, the alignment also displays additional renderings. For example, there is a G-Force graph that allows the driver to see the magnitude when cornering, as well as the temperature of the tires, engines and battery pack.

Tesla ran a total of 10 recall campaigns in 2022, covering 2.1 million vehicles, but some vehicles are covered by more than one campaign, according to NHTSA. The company has the second highest number of recalled vehicles for May 2022, behind Ford Motor.^[30]

Tesla recalls 127,000 defective cars due to faulty engines

On April 7, 2022, it was reported that Tesla was recalling 127,785 Model 3 electric vehicles in China due to potential faults in semiconductor components that could lead to accidents. The service campaign included vehicles produced between January 2019 and January 2022, of which 34,207 were imported and 93,578 were produced in China, according to a statement on the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The problem lies in the semiconductor component, which can lead to potential collisions and pose a safety risk in some extreme scenarios, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in a statement.

It is explained that this is a factory defect of the semiconductor current converter of the rear electric motor. If the malfunction is not eliminated, then while driving, the electric car may experience problems with traction and even start. The presence of a defective part can cause an accident.

Tesla will update the software of recalled cars for free using remote update technology over the internet, SAMR said in a statement. Those who cannot access the update remotely will have to contact sales centers.

The fact that they were produced in both China and the United States shows that this was a design flaw in the model, not something related to the production process.

This review is not the first in China. On February 18, 2022, the company announced an immediate recall of 26,047 Chinese Model 3s and Model Ys produced between December 28, 2020 and January 15, 2022 due to software issues. In addition, the manufacturer recalled 199,741 cars, including imported Model S and Model 3, as well as locally produced Model 3.

Tesla is the leader in sales in China and sold 321 thousand cars in the country in 2021, which is 117% more than a year earlier. NIO, Xpeng and Li Auto, three Chinese electric car makers seen as rivals of the US giant, delivered a total of 280,075 units over the same period.^[31]

Tesla electric car got into an accident again due to autopilot failure

In early February 2022 electric vehicle Tesla , he got into a traffic accident due to a failure autopilot using the program. Full Self-Driving Beta The car that collided with the pole was caught on video.

In January 2022, Tesla founder Elon Musk claimed that Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta full autonomous driving program had not yet had a single accident, although the program has been running since the summer of 2021. In early February 2022, Electrek received a real example of an accident using the FSD autopilot system.

The driver of FSD Beta under the nickname AI Addict on Youtube posted a video in which the car crashes into a pole fencing the bike path, according to the author, it was a small accident, as a result of which only paint was damaged, but technically the car crashed into the object.

Importantly, Tesla bears no responsibility for FSD Beta. Autopilot is considered an early version of Tesla's self-driving software, which for February 2022 is being tested by a fleet of Tesla owners selected by the company, Autopilot taking a safety test. The software allows the car to drive autonomously to its destination entered into the vehicle's navigation system, but the driver remains responsible for the vehicle and must remain vigilant and ready to take control at any time.

The video was filmed in downtown San Jose in the United States using the latest software version 10.10 version 2021.44.30.15. In the comments to the video, Tesla fans already say that the driver should not have allowed this. In fact, this is an example, according to Electrek, when the driver seemed to be attentive, but in this situation he also trusted the car too much. Users can see in the video how the driver is trying to adjust the trajectory, but it was too late. But in fact, the accident was not even the worst maneuver of the driver in the video. At various points, the car can be seen passing a red light, entering the tram lane and making many other dangerous maneuvers. Electrek advises to significantly accelerate the pace of software improvements for FSD.^[32]

Recall of 817 thousand defective cars due to seat belts

In early February 2022, Tesla announced the recall of more than 817,000 defective cars in the United States. The malfunction concerns the operation of seat belts.

The recall applies to the 2021 and 2022 Model S sedan and Model X SUV, as well as the 2017-2022 Model 3 sedan and the 2020-2022 Model Y SUV. The problem is the failure of the sound signal to remind you of unfastened belts when the car has already been launched and the driver has not yet been fastened.

Federal vehicle safety laws require the beep to be triggered when the vehicle is started and stop when the front straps are fastened.

Recall documents released by the State Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the problem only occurs if the driver left the vehicle in the previous driving cycle while the horn sounded.

If the sound of a non-fastened seatbelt reminder is not activated at the start of a new ride cycle and the driver does not notice the accompanying visual signal about the non-fastened seatbelt, the driver may not receive a reminder to fasten the seatbelt and may begin driving in a non-fastened state, which may increase the risk of injury, the NHTSA report said.

The fault was first discovered by the South Korean Automobile Testing and Research Institute, then Tesla independently investigated further. Tesla plans to fix the problem in February by sending a software update over the wireless network. There were no reports of injuries or accidents due to the issue, the automaker said. A visual reminder of the non-fastened belt is still displayed to drivers.^[33]

Recall of 50 thousand cars due to defective autopilot

In early February 2022, it was revealed that Tesla planned to recall more than 50,000 vehicles over concerns that driver assistance software allowed it to pass through stop signs without stopping completely.

The recall affects 53,822 vehicles, including some Model S sedans and Model X 2016-2022 SUVs, as well as Model 3 2017-2022 and Model Y 2020-2022 vehicles. The company intends to eliminate the marriage with a software update that will disable the "rolling stop" feature (it was introduced in October 2020) available to users of Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" software beta.

A malfunction of the "rolling stop" function can cause a car to pull into an intersection marked with stop signs before stopping completely. This only applies if the vehicle is travelling at less than 9 km/h as it approaches the junction and no vehicles are found nearby, among other conditions.

Despite the fact that Tesla made the "rolling stop" feature available on its cars, in many jurisdictions slowing down instead of stopping completely is prohibited, drivers face a fine for non-compliance with the rules.

I don't know of any state where this is allowed, "noted Russ Martin, senior director of policy and government relations at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Lawyers interpreted the California Transportation Code as explicitly prohibiting "rolling stop." Drivers approaching the "stop" sign, according to the state code of vehicles, must "stop at the restriction line" before entering the pedestrian crossing or before leaving the crossing road.^[34]

Tesla ranked the most unreliable electric car

At the end of January 2022, the German Technical Inspection and Certification Agency (TÜV) presented the results of the inspection of four electric running vehicles: BMW i3, Smart ForTwo, Renault Zoe and Tesla Model S. Tesla's electric car turned out to be the most unreliable. Read more here.

For the first time, a Tesla electric car on autopilot killed two people at once

On January 18, 2022, prosecutors California filed felony charges against a Tesla Model S owner for a fatal autopilot crash involving a car system, marking the first time a Tesla owner has been prosecuted in USA a case involving the automaker's advanced driver assistance system. In addition, this is the first time that electric vehicle Tesla killed two people on autopilot at once.

The incident occurred in Gardena, a suburb of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Kevin George Aziz Riad, 27, was exiting the highway in his black Model S when he drove a red light, crashed into a Honda Civic and killed two people.

Riad, a limousine driver, faces two counts of vehicle manslaughter, according to documents filed in California Supreme Court. He has been released on bail by the time charges are filed, with the case pending by January 2022.

Autopilot, which can control steering and braking functions as well as automatically change lanes on certain highways, has come under scrutiny from federal regulators. Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into more than a dozen incidents involving Tesla vehicles using Autopilot that crashed into standing ambulances. Autopilot has contributed to a number of fatal crashes in the past, and the families of the fallen drivers have sued Tesla for wrongful death.

Tesla's Autopilot SOFTWARE is considered a "partially automated" Level 2 system by Society of Automotive Engineers standards, which requires drivers to hold their hands on the steering wheel and stare at the road.

There is no mention of Autopilot in the criminal prosecution document. But NHTSA, which sent a team to investigate the crash in 2019, confirmed the driver assistance feature was active at the time of the incident. The agency plans to release the results of the investigation in 2022.

NHTSA reminds the public that no commercially available vehicle can drive itself today, a spokesman said. - Whether the L2 automated driving system is enabled or not, each vehicle requires the driver to always control control, and all state laws hold the driver responsible for operating their vehicles.[35]

Tesla electric car owner mines cryptocurrency on it and makes $800 a month from it

In early January 2022, information appeared about how the American Siraj Raval mined cryptocurrency on the Tesla Model 3 electric car. The car owner has tried almost all possible ways to extract cryptocurrencies using his 2018 car.

Siraj Raval ran free bitcoin mining software on his Apple Mac mini M1 and powered the computer from an inverter, connecting the device to a 12-volt outlet located on the car's center console. Although this is fraught with the loss of a car warranty, the motorist noted that the risk is worth it. When the price of "ether" peaked in 2021, Siraj Raval claims that he earned up to $800 a month.

Bitcoin miner Alejandro de la Torre says ultimately mining with Tesla is the same as connecting to any other energy source. The main component is - the price of electricity, if it is cheaper to do it through an electric car, then this is just one of the tools. In industry parlance, cryptocurrency mining represents an energy-intensive process in which cars around the world contribute their computing power to a shared network to create new coins and validate the transactions of existing tokens. To do this, they run specialized software that processes complex mathematical equations.

The owner tried to mine bitcoin by connecting a type of mining installation called Bitmain Antminer S9, specially used to mine the world's most popular cryptocurrency, directly to the battery of his car using an inverter. The same variant also successfully used the car's internal firmware to mine altcoins. Of all the methods tried by Raval, the most lucrative, he said, is the combination of hacking into Tesla's internal computer and connecting GPUs directly to the car's electric motor.

Siraj Raval's car travels 515 km on a single charge, and it takes from $10 to $15 to charge. If he rides it for several hours a day, then charging is required once every one and a half weeks, so the monthly bill is from $30 to $60. Raval estimates he mines roughly 20 hours a day using a Tesla battery.^[36]

2021

Recall of 475 thousand cars due to defects with the risk of an accident

At the end of December 2021, it was announced that Tesla Inc. was recalling about 475,000 vehicles in the United States - almost as many as were delivered worldwide last year - due to technical defects that could raise the risk of accidents.

The company plans to recall all Model 3 cars produced between 2017 and 2020 - that's 356,309. The harness of wires for the rear view camera can be damaged when the trunk is opened and closed, which will not allow the image to be displayed.

Tesla is also recalling up to 119,009 Model S cars assembled since 2014 due to a faulty front trunk latch that could lead to an unexpected opening.

The company said it would fix both issues for free.

Defective Autopilot camcorders found in Tesla electric vehicles

In early December 2021, it became known that it would Tesla replace faulty cameras autopilot on at least several hundred electric vehicles Model S, Model X and Model 3 manufactured at the plant in Fremont (state). California

The faulty Autopilot cameras of some Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles have problematic circuit boards inside, the company said. This can cause the cameras to lose "electrical integrity" and fail well before the time when the cameras could reasonably be expected to require upgrade or replacement.

Camera turn repeaters, which are located lower and slightly in front of the side view mirrors on the front wings of some Tesla cars, include driver assistance features such as autopilot, autopilot navigation and smart calling, for example. They also allow drivers to see what is happening in the blind spots of their cars.

In the event that the cameras don't work, drivers typically see a black screen or intermittent video stream on Tesla's main display and may receive warnings that their Autopilot feature is limited. Moreover, due to an internal malfunction, cameras can fail much earlier than the end of their service life.

In case of problems with incorrectly working cameras, repairs are carried out by Tesla authorized representatives on a voluntary basis. Despite the fact that the problem with the printed circuit boards was not officially reported anywhere, CNBC representatives received information about the problem from former and current Tesla employees who wished to remain anonymous. For the first time, this problem became known in December 2020, it was reported by the Canadian blog Drive Tesla, dedicated to Tesla car lovers.^[37]

The Minister of Industry and Trade criticized work of the Tesla electric vehicles in the winter

In early December 2021, the Minister of Industry and Trade Russia Denis Manturov shared his experience in operation. electric vehicle Tesla According to the head, the Ministry of Industry and Trade car is not adapted for use in the conditions of the Russian winter.

He has 400-450 km in his passport. I can say from my own experience: the car stood for an hour and a half in the cold, the frost was minus 30. I barely drove to the house, because instead of the declared 450 km, less than 100 km remained, and in fact - even less, - said Manturov.

The minister believes that in 20-30 years the transport industry will be a symbiosis of road and aviation transport. However, to achieve this goal, it is necessary to develop technologies - including electric motors and batteries. In Russia, due to the peculiarities of climatic conditions, such energy sources are "not yet fully established technology."

According to the income statement, the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been using the Tesla Model X 100D electric crossover since 2020. The second car in the declaration of the politician for 2020 was Lada Vesta.

At the end of May 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation spoke about the conditions for the opening of the Tesla plant in Russia. According to Denis Manturov, among the main requirements of the authorities is the creation of added value and the localization of technologies that the country does not have at the moment.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, and now (by December 2021) Chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation Arkady Dvorkovich said that the opening of the Tesla plant has been discussed for two years. At the same time, Dvorkovich noted that the Tesla team considers Russia as a large and attractive market. He added that much in this matter depends on the "rules of the game" and the conditions created in Russia for business development.^[38]

Hundreds of Tesla owners unable to get into their cars after app glitch

In mid-November 2021, drivers electric cars Tesla began to complain about being blocked in their own cars after a malfunction of the automaker's application. Dozens of owners posted on social media about seeing an error message on a mobile app that prevented them from connecting to their cars.

The Tesla app is used by drivers as a key to unlock and start their cars. Owners posted numerous complaints online that they could not use their cars, with about 500 users reporting the bug on the app at about 4:40 pm ET on November 19, 2021, according to the DownDetector website, which tracks crashes, and five hours later received just over 60 error messages.

In order to get into or out of the car, in addition to the application, there will be another mechanism, and drivers will have difficulties if they do not have an application with them. Technology makes things convenient, but relies on the server to run 100% all the time. This is the same as leaving the house without credit cards, hoping to pay for things using a smartphone... If we rely on one mechanism all the time, we may find ourselves in a difficult situation, "said Stuart Masson, editor of The Car Expert.

Some Tesla head Elon Musk answered personally in one of the social networks. The head assured that the company is aware of the problem and is looking for a solution. As a result, the failure was resolved only after five hours, and Musk promised that this would not happen again. Tesla attributed the failure to the fact that a non-high-quality update of the app was released, and the problem was in one of the new features for integrating future customers into the company's system.

Meanwhile, you can open an electric car in two more ways, as advised by Canadian technical blogger Lewis Hilsenteger, because after buying a car, the user receives a standard keychain, but most users do not use a keychain. Hilsenteger clarified that the owner is also given a key card, which looks like a card for unlocking a hotel room.^[39]

Tesla's new autopilot slows down sharply due to non-existent obstacles

In mid-November 2021, Tesla notes an increase in complaints of serious and dangerous cases of phantom braking in the autopilot system in the latest software updates. The system falsely detects objects on the road or calculates false collision trajectories that will not actually be, and then emergency braking of the car is activated to try to avoid a phantom obstacle. Read more here.

Tesla recalls 11,704 defective cars that spontaneously urgently slow down

Tesla is recalling 11,704 defective electric vehicles, which spontaneously urgently slow down due to faulty software. This statement was made on November 2, 2021 by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The service campaign affected Tesla Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model 3 cars sold since 2017. After installing Full-Self Driving (FSD) version 10.3 on them, drivers began to complain about the unintentional activation of the emergency braking system. In such a situation, there is a high risk of an accident - the driver of a Tesla driving behind a faulty car may not have time to react to its sharp braking and crash. However, the company, as she claims, by the beginning of November 2021 is unknown about the accident caused by this problem.

After the appearance of negative reviews of the car, the manufacturer "rolled back" the autopilot to version 10.2 and promptly released a corrected version of FSD 10.3.1 to replace the problematic software. The problem affects those cars that were sold in the United States, but they could get through the secondary market and to other countries.

Owners of electric cars that fell under the recall campaign do not need to take any action - all updates were installed and rolled back automatically if there is communication with the on-board systems of the electric car.

This is not the first defect message in the new FSD firmware. At the end  of October 2021, Tesla stopped beta testing the driver assistance system after testers complained about false crash warnings and other errors. The description of the version reported that it better detects stop lights, turn signals and emergency lights of other vehicles on the road, and also reduced the percentage of false alarms in it.^[40]

Recall of defective 2,800 Model Y and Model 3 cars

At the end of October 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that Tesla recalls about 2,800 defective Model Y and Model 3 cars in the United States.

The regulator said on its website that a potential car suspension issue could increase the risk of accidents. The regulator added that the problem associated with front suspension mounts can shift the convergence of wheels and make the car unstable.

NHTSA's recall report of 2,791 Teslas said there "may be unusual noise that a customer can detect from the front suspension."

The recalled vehicles include some Model Y cars built in 2020 and 2021 and some Model 3 cars built between 2019 and 2021, NHTSA said. According to Tesla representatives, all owners whose cars are subject to recall will receive official notifications from the manufacturer.

As part of the recall, Tesla will tighten or replace the side lever mounts for free, according to NHTSA.

The recall doesn't necessarily mean the mounts on all vehicles can loosen - meaning Tesla wants to inspect the vehicles and make the necessary repairs.

Earlier in 2021, Tesla twice recalled nearly 8,000 vehicles with potentially faulty seat belts. In the same month, nearly 6,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars were recalled due to potentially loose bolts that could affect tire pressure.

In addition, Tesla, under pressure from the authorities, was forced to announce a recall of the Model S and Model X in China: customers complained about suspension breakdowns, Tesla accused them of inability to use transport, as a result, Chinese supervisory authorities sided with consumers and forced the American company to repair the suspension at its own expense.^[41]

Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling car in Europe

On October 25, 2021, the Jato Dynamics research group announced that the electric car became the best-selling car in Europe for the first time. This happened in September 2021, when Tesla Model 3 broke into the first place. Read more here.

Tesla electric car bursts into flames while charging and burns home

In early August 2021, it became known that the Tesla Model S electric car caught fire while charging. A fire engulfed a nearby car and the owners' house in San Ramon (California). Fortunately, no one was hurt as the hosts were not at home that day. A number of electric car manufacturers have warned owners not to leave cars charging unattended overnight.

Tesla has argued in the past that its vehicles are ten times less prone to fire than gas-powered vehicles, based on data from the National Fire Protection Association and the federal Highway Administration. USA However, safety experts point out that electric car-related fires have a longer duration and intensity than conventional ones.

It can take up to 24 hours to extinguish a battery that has caught fire, Tesla's website says in its emergency response manual for the Model S.

Tesla owners report numerous cases of spontaneous combustion of older models, although not all under the same circumstances. The Washington Post documented at least five fires involving the Model S, including the December 30, 2020, fire that destroyed much of the San Ramon home. At the end of 2020, another Tesla Model S electric car caught fire in Frisco, state, and in Texas 2018 a Tesla Model S caught fire "unexpectedly" on the street, Angeles said actress Mary McCormack, whose husband owned the car.

Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been examining Tesla's battery management system since 2019, but declines to comment on open investigations.^[42]

Selling a premium driver assistance package for $200 a month

In July 2021, Tesla introduced the opportunity for its customers to subscribe to a premium driver assistance package for $199 per month instead of a one-time fee of $10,000. The option, called Full Self-Driving (FSD), is a driver assistance system that does not make Tesla electric vehicles safe to use without a driver behind the wheel, the manufacturer claims.

One of the eligible owners shared a notice received from the company on July 16, 2021 stating the following:

Full self-learning is now available through a monthly subscription. Upgrade your Model Y... for $199 (excluding taxes) to take advantage of features such as navigation on autopilot, automatic lane change, automatic parking, traffic lights and stop signs.

The features currently included require active driver control and do not make the car fully autonomous.

While the Tesla Model Y has all the components necessary to start subscribing to FSD, other owners complained that to subscribe, they would have to pay $1,500 to upgrade the computer in their car to Hardware 3 (hereinafter HW3), which the company first demonstrated at the Autonomy Day event in April 2019.

Customers who have previously purchased the Enhanced Autopilot package, this tariff the company no longer provides, can subscribe to FSD at a lower price of $99 per month, but this may require an update to HW3.

In a subscription agreement on Tesla's website, electric car maker Elon Musk warns that, among other things:

• FSD features can be modified or restricted for individual regions and can only be used on cars from Tesla that have newer Autopilot equipment and technology installed;
• Drivers are responsible for paying for travel, parking, or other traffic violations that occurred on a vehicle that operates with the FSD feature enabled;
• Tesla can raise the price of a subscription at any time, but will alert drivers a month before the new fare is billed.

Owners can cancel the FSD at any time, but the company will not adjust their monthly payment in this case. The company may suspend or cancel its FSD subscription if the driver uses the technology unauthorized or inappropriate and for non-payment.

The premium FSD package allows for more sophisticated features such as (smart calling), which allows the driver to call his car to drive behind him from the other side of the parking lot using a mobile app like a remote control.

Tesla also promised that a feature called "Auto Control on City Streets" would soon be available to drivers with FSD. But the company is well behind its initial and even revised goals for a sophisticated "robotaxi."

To refine unfinished driver assistance features, the company provides some owners with early access to the FSD beta - effectively turning thousands of regular drivers into testers software on public roads in. USA

In April 2021, the company told regulators at the California Department of Transportation and NHTSA that its FSD and FSD Beta technology complies with the Level 2 vehicle automation category security system developed by professional engineering association SAE International.

According to SAE standards, the latest updates, which were introduced in May 2021, drivers of level 2 cars must constantly monitor them, including driving, braking or accelerating as necessary to maintain safety. Level 2 cars are equipped with features such as automatic lane centering, which works in conjunction with adaptive cruise control.^[43][44]

Recall of thousands of defective electric cars that suddenly accelerate

In late June 2021, Chinese regulators reported that Tesla was recalling nearly 300,000 Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles for an online software update related to the driver assistance system, with owners not required to return their vehicles. The tool applies to machines produced in the PRC and in other countries.

China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said on its website that the move involved problems in the automatic speed maintenance system that could cause the driver to mistakenly enable active cruise control. In this case, various scenarios are possible, including a sudden increase in speed beyond the expectation of the driver. Potentially, this could lead to an accident.

The online software update is the first for Tesla cars made in China. The "recall" covers 249,855 Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles and 35,665 imported Model 3 sedans.

Tesla, which as of June 2021 makes Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs in Shanghai, sold 33,463 Chinese-made electric vehicles in May, according to industry data.

Tesla began recalling electric cars after five Chinese regulators raised concerns about the quality of Model 3 cars produced at the plant.

The automaker noted on its website that owners of electric vehicles do not need to come to the service station, since the necessary software updates are performed online.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our car owners. Tesla, meanwhile, will strictly comply with national regulations and continue to improve safety by adamantly ensuring safe driving for our customers, Tesla added.[45]

Tesla ditches its most expensive electric car amid chip shortage

In early June 2021, Tesla ditched its most expensive flagship sedan, the Model S Plaid Plus, due to a shortage of chips and other supply chain issues. This was announced on his Twitter blog by Elon Musk.

Earlier, Tesla promised to release a three-engine model S Plaid Plus with a capacity of 1100 horsepower, which is capable of 0 to 95 km/h in less than two seconds. In March, Tesla raised the price of the Model S Plaid Plus to $150,000. But the possibility of pre-ordering a new model disappeared from Tesla's website in the last week of May 2021, according to a CNET report. The remaining 1020 horsepower high-end S Plaid model will cost about $119,900.

Earlier, Musk planned to hold a "presentation" ceremony for the Model S Plaid at Tesla's Fremont (California) plant on June 3, but as the date approached, he had to postpone the start of sales until June 10, as the car needed "another week of refinement."

Like other North American automakers, Tesla has had to contend with various supply chain issues, of which a shortage of computer chips has proved particularly severe. The company even had to abandon the introduction of radar sensors and lumbar supports for the front passenger seats in its Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover. In the first quarter of 2021, the company did not release a single electric car from the more expensive Model S or Model X series, although Musk said production of these cars is still underway.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the company raised prices several times for various variants of its most popular Model 3 and Model Y cars in the United States. Musk attributes the price increases to supply chain issues: "Prices are rising due to price pressures from major suppliers across the industry."^[46]

Model 3 and Model Y car recall due to defective brakes

In early June 2021, it became known that Tesla is recalling almost 6 thousand of its electric vehicles due to defective brakes. Voluntarily recalled vehicles include the 2019-2021 Model 3 electric cars and the 2020-2021 Model Y electric cars.

Tesla is recalling 5,974 of its electric vehicles due to brake problems, according to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It turned out that the aforementioned models did not properly fix the brake calipers. Because of this, the mounts can weaken, the calipers can touch the rim of the wheel and provoke an accident.

The company said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries sustained due to the defect. Tesla also said it would check the condition of all recalled vehicles for free to tighten or replace the brake caliper bolts. It is not yet known whether this recall exclusively concerns the United States or whether the figure is final.

According to the company, engineers became aware of the defect in December 2020, when they were informed about the 2021 Y model with a lost mount on the rear brake caliper on the driver's side. The company said it had already taken steps to prevent the problem during assembly.

This is far from the first recall of a Tesla car. In February, the company recalled more than 170,000 electric vehicles due to a touch screen failure - 36,126 Model S and Model X cars in China and 134,951 cars in the United States. In 2020, the company had to recall its cars twice due to suspension and roof problems. Tesla recalled almost 50,000 cars in China due to faulty suspension and 9,500 Model X and Model Y cars in the United States due to problems with the roof and bolts. In 2018, Tesla voluntarily recalled 123,000 Model S cars due to a problem with the power steering element.^[47]

Payment of compensation for deliberate reduction in the range of electric vehicles using software

At the end of May 2021, a Norwegian court fined Tesla for deliberately reducing battery capacity and charging speed. The company will have to pay 136,000 kronor ($16,000) to each affected Model S owner, which could cost Tesla hundreds of millions of dollars, Electrek reported.

Tesla electric car owners in Norway and other countries have long complained about a reduction in the mileage of new models by about 50 km and a decrease in fast charging speed at Tesla Supercharger stations. These problems appeared in models released in 2013-2015, after the software update in 2019. The manufacturer explained that all changes were introduced in order to "protect the battery and increase its life," and assured that the changes will affect only "a small share of owners." Meanwhile, some owners observed a sharp drop in battery capacity, in some cases reaching 11%.

As a result, owners of electric cars filed lawsuits not only in Norway, but also in Denmark, the United States and other countries. Tesla reportedly did not respond to the lawsuit, so the decision was made in absentia. As with Apple, the court concluded that the company deliberately reduced the range and charging speed of older models of electric cars, which were discontinued in 2016. Thus pushing owners to buy new models.

The court found the company guilty of deliberately reducing the quality of electric vehicles and ordered to pay $16,000 to each of the affected Model S owners. If Tesla does not appeal, at least 30 car owners who filed an initial lawsuit should receive such compensation. However, in Norway there are more than 10,000 owners of such electric vehicles, so soon we can talk about a more serious amount.^[48]

Hacking Tesla Model 3 with a Wi-Fi drone

In early May 2021, German specialists - Kunnamon CEO Ralph-Philip Weinman and Comsecuris employee Benedict Schmotzle - demonstrated a vulnerability electric vehicle Tesla in the Model 3. The researchers hacked the vehicle and were able to organize the control of its functions with. drone

We are talking about a vulnerability in the ConnMan Internet connection manager, which Tesla uses for its standard devices. The hack occurred using an unmanned aerial vehicle via Wi-Fi: according to information security specialists, you can open the doors of the car at a distance of up to 100 meters. In addition, with the help of an additional exploit, a hacked electric car can be turned into a hacking point to gain access to other Tesla nearby.

Researchers say the gunman could compromise a parked car, take control of its infotainment system, and perform a variety of actions - unlock doors and the trunk, change seat positions, steering and overclocking modes, or implement malicious firmware that turns Tesla into an access point that could be used to operate other Tesla cars near.

According to the researchers, all four models of the company's electric cars are subject to attack. They added that the victim of such an attack did not need to accept or confirm any notifications or messages so that potential hackers could take control of the vehicle.

The automaker fixed the vulnerabilities in October 2020 and stopped using ConnMan. The problem in the configurator was notified by its developer Intel, but they refused to take responsibility there. Since ConnMan is widespread in the automotive industry, similar attacks can be launched on machines from other manufacturers.^[49]

Tesla autopilot can be tricked into working without a driver

Autopilot Tesla can be tricked into working without a driver. This became known on April 23, 2021.

The system can be tricked using a weighted chain attached to the steering wheel to simulate driver hand pressure.

According to experts from the non-profit organization Consumer Reports, an investigation into this problem appeared after a fatal accident in Texas, when no one was driving.

Using a weighted chain attached to the steering wheel to simulate driver hand pressure, two Consumer Reports safety researchers were able to use Tesla's Model Y system to increase the transport vehicle's travel speed. Car was able to drive a few laps on the test track while the driver was in the passenger seat.

The car repeatedly drove along the road lane of our highway and did not notice that there was no one in the driver's seat. It was a little scary when we realized how easy it was to bypass security measures, which turned out to be clearly insufficient, the experts noted.

Experts warned other people against trying to deceive Tesla Autopilot in this way, noting that the experiment should not be conducted by anyone except trained^[50] professionals^[51].

Fatal crash involving Model S car moving on driverless autopilot

On April 17, 2021, authorities American Texas State reported an accident involving electric vehicle Tesla a 2019 Model S. A car moving at high speed, in which there was no driver behind the wheel, did not fit into the turn and crashed into. tree

The crash, which happened in a residential area of Woodlands about 48km north of the city of Houston, killed two men aged 59 and 69. According to preliminary data from local authorities, at the time of the accident, the electric car was in autopilot mode, while no one was driving.

One of the dead was in the passenger front seat, and the second was sitting behind. The wives of the victims confirmed that shortly before the accident, the men talked about wanting to ride a Tesla and test the Autopilot system.

A preliminary investigation has not yet been completed, but Harris County Police Officer Mark Herman noted that physical evidence from the scene, as well as questioning of witnesses, indicates that none of the dead were driving the car while driving, is 99.9%.

The fire that arose as a result of a collision with a tree was extinguished by emergency services for more than four hours in a row, in total more than 120 thousand liters of water were used.

It took four hours to extinguish the fire, usually taking a few minutes to solve such a problem, "said Herman.

In March 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was investigating nearly two dozen crashes involving Tesla that either used Autopilot or may have used it. Regulators continue to raise concerns about batteries used in electric vehicles. The National Safety Board on transport (NTSB) warned in a 2020 report that batteries could pose a safety risk to emergency responders.

Harris County Fire Department chief investigator Mitchell Weston noted that while batteries are "generally safe," high-speed impacts can lead to "thermal acceleration" that causes "uncontrolled contact" between various materials in batteries.^[52]

Double write-off of funds from car buyers without their knowledge

At the end of March 2021, Tesla buyers from Southern California announced that the company had twice debited money from their bank accounts for buying a car without warning and permission. Amounts ranged from $37 to $71 thousand.

For affected buyers surveyed by CNBC, the amounts debited from their accounts ranged from $37 thousand (the price of the Tesla Model 3,2021 sedan in the basic modification) to about 71 thousand (the price of the Tesla Model Y crossover in 2021 with premium options).

One Tesla buyer, Tom Slattery, who purchased the 2021 Tesla Model Y 4x4, said in an interview with CNBC that he immediately noticed the funds being re-debited. An extra $50 thousand was debited from his account. Slattery immediately called the company, but Tesla representatives either did not answer calls or did not give specific information about the refund. As a result, Slattery was told to contact his bank; by March 29, 2021, he is still awaiting any explanation regarding the refund. Slattery used the contactless car delivery service, but he is ready to refuse to complete the purchase procedure until the funds are returned to him.

Featurespace founder Dave Exsell, who specializes in preventing financial crime, noted that double debits are a common problem in e-commerce and banking in general.

CNBC officials have reached out to Tesla with several questions, notably how many customers have faced double payments, how such problems could affect its performance, how quickly the company can reimburse owners and what customers should do in situations like this. The company has not yet commented on the incidents.^[53]

Officials and military in China banned from driving Tesla electric cars

In mid-March 2021 China , it banned the use of electric vehicles Tesla some government and military employees. At the same time, the country's leadership referred to national security concerns. More. here

Tesla Model Y electric car driving autopilot crashes into police car

In mid-March 2021 autopilot electric vehicle Tesla , a Model Y driving crashed into a Michigan State Police patrol car. Police officers attended the scene of the crash of another vehicle that collided with a deer shortly after 1am. During the investigation, a Tesla Model Y crashed into a Dodge Charger police officer who was standing with flashing beacons on and partially blocking the right lane.

The investigation of this road accident has not yet been completed, but it has already turned out that at the time of the accident, the driver's license of the 22-year-old Tesla owner was invalid. For this, the driver can receive a fine of $500 and even imprisonment for up to 93 days.

Both cars were badly damaged: as a result of the accident, the rear bumper of the Charger, the rear door on the driver's side and the rear wing were crumpled. The Model Y was cut from the passenger side from the front bumper to the front post. Despite the damage, no one was injured.

Exactly why the crash happened is still unclear, but the driver claims to have turned on Autopilot. Of course, this is not an excuse for inattention, and the police will probably need to conduct a more thorough investigation. It should be noted that Autopilot is not a fully autonomous driving system, and, according to Tesla's instructions, this technology requires "active driver control." However, many owners are oblivious to existing restrictions.

The consequences of such inattention can be fatal, as evidenced by a number of accidents with Tesla cars. In the summer of 2020, in the United States, a Tesla Model S with the Autopilot semi-automatic control mode turned on crashed into a police car, and a little earlier a Tesla Model S collided with a police SUV and rammed an ambulance.^[54]

Recall of 135 thousand cars due to defective touch displays

In early February 2021, Tesla announced the recall of 134,951 Tesla Model S sedans and Model X SUVs due to the possible premature failure of their central touchscreen displays, which could pose a safety risk. Tesla previously objected to a demand for a recall by regulators because it argued the issue was not related to safety.

Some Model S cars from 2012 to 2018 and Model X from 2016 to 2018 fall under the recall. As part of the recall, which begins March 30, 2021, Tesla must notify owners of cars with crash-prone touchscreens and replace the computer chip that controls the screen.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believes that the detected problem can pose a safety risk, since without a working center screen, drivers lose access to the rear-view camera display and window heater controls, condensate cleaning systems.

During negotiations with NHTSA, Tesla, citing the regulator's demand to recall the mentioned vehicles, noted that it was not aware of any accidents related to the problem, and said that electric vehicles can be safely controlled without a display. The regulator did not accept Tesla's arguments. Until now, the automaker has charged customers to upgrade or replace displays, but it is assumed that repair costs on an official recall will be covered by the vehicle manufacturer. In its letter to NHTSA, Tesla said it would repair electric vehicles for free and offer auto owners a discount on updated screen equipment.

An investigation into the problems with the built-in multimedia card (eMMC) was launched in June 2020. The regulator considered 12.5 thousand claims and complaints before sending an official request for mandatory recall to Tesla.^[55]

Tesla Model 3 fire and explosion in Shanghai

In mid-January 2021 Shanghai electric vehicle Tesla , a Model 3 spontaneously caught fire and exploded in one of the underground parking lots. The car completely burned down, but there were no casualties.

The electric car caught fire in the underground parking lot of a residential complex in Qibao (Shanghai). The car was parked next to the entrance. At first, the electric car self-ignited, after which the battery exploded. Firefighters who arrived at the scene of the incident extinguished the fire, but the car burned out completely.

The Chinese representative office of Tesla reacted to the fire, they said that the cause of the fire was most likely damage to the battery as a result of a blow to the bottom of the car. The company continues to work with the fire department.

Shanghai is home to Tesla's only electric car assembly facility outside the United States. An agreement on the construction of the plant was signed in July 2018. Initially, only the Model 3 was assembled at the plant, but later the Model Y assembly was also connected. Tesla officially announced its intention to bring the annual production volume at the Shanghai enterprise to 500 thousand cars.

In early January 2021, the world's largest Tesla charging station, designed for 72 cars, opened in an underground parking lot in one of the Shanghai shopping malls. The station offers V2 chargers with Supercharger a capacity of up to 150 kilowatts to owners of electric cars. Before the opening of the station in Shanghai, the largest charging station was considered the Supercharger station in the city of Firebo (state). California This station opened in November 2020, it is designed for 56 cars. The station in California is considered the most powerful in the world, as unlike Shanghai, it uses 250-kilowatt V3 chargers.^[56][57]

Recall of 158 thousand cars with defective equipment

In mid-January 2021, the National Highway Safety Administration under the US Department of Transport (NHTSA) demanded that Tesla recall 158,000 Model S and Model X electric vehicles. According to the regulator, failures of multimedia control units (MCU) in these models lead to a breakdown of touch displays and loss of some functions, in particular, the driver may lose access to the rear view camera and autopilot system.

Vehicles Tesla Model X 2016-2018 and Model S 2012-2018. Equipped with an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with solid-state memory, which is 8 GB, the number of rewriting cycles is limited. When the processor's free memory space runs out, the data is overwritten on top of the old ones, which leads to memory wear, and this in turn causes the MCU to fail. Because of this, the driver of the electric car is deprived of many important functions, which are controlled by a touch display. For example, access to climate control, autopilot control, etc. is lost.

The card capacity is approximately 3 thousand rewriting cycles, after which the device loses its functionality. According to the American regulator, the process of complete memory wear will take about 5-6 years. Tesla said that for the Model S 2012-2015, the percentage of memory failures in the head device reached 17%, in electric cars that were released between 2016 and 2018. this figure is up to 4%.

Tesla acknowledged that all blocks with this chip will "inevitably fail," the company has released software updates designed to mitigate failures. However, NHTSA considers these measures insufficient, since the breakdown limits access to the rear view camera, which is required by federal law.^[58]

2020

Recall of 9 thousand defective electric crossovers

At the end of November 2020, Tesla announced two recalls of defective electric vehicles. The recall requirement was put forward by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) after the discovery of factory defects in the roof and suspension.

The larger recall concerns 9,136 copies of the 2016 Model X. The reason for the recall of electric cars was the destruction of the adhesive joint due to the lack of a primer coating layer on the roof skin. NHTSA noted that by the time the defect was found, there were no reports of accidents, however, separating the skin from the vehicle while driving could pose a danger to people and cars who are nearby.

According to Tesla, the company became aware of the roof problem in the 2016 Model X in September 2020. Tesla organized its own investigation to understand how dangerous a defect could be. The company intends to investigate the problem of recalled cars and conduct testing to determine further actions.

The second recall affected 401 Model Y cars of 2020, suspension defects were found in these models. We are talking about bolts that are designed to connect the front upper suspension lever and the swivel knuckle. Experts report that the elements are not properly fixed, which is why the upper lever can completely disconnect from the swivel fist.

Tesla said it has already received three suspension repair requests from Model Y owners who have encountered a detected problem. Car owners began to complain about the knock and creak in the front suspension, subsequently it was found that there was no nut for attaching the ball support of the lever. The company said it was not aware of any car-related incidents or injuries that came under these recall campaigns.^[59]

Recall of 50 thousand defective cars

At the end of October 2020, Tesla announced the recall of almost 50 thousand electric vehicles due to problems in the suspension. Service campaign launched in China. The manufacturer did not admit his guilt in the defects, but agreed to eliminate them at his own expense.

48,442 Model S and Model X electric cars, which were sold in the Chinese market, are subject to return to service centers. Among them:

• 29,193 Model S and Model X copies imported into the country from September 17, 2013 to August 16, 2017;
• 19,249 imported Model S manufactured between September 17, 2013 and October 15, 2018.

Tesla's electric cars are problematic with front and rear suspension levers, on which cracks can form in the event of an external impact, as a result of which the lever can completely collapse.

According to a Tesla investigation, problems with suspensions among electric vehicles sold to China of these models appeared in the case of 0.1% of cars, while outside of China the same defects were detected in 0.05% of cars. Based on this, Tesla experts and lawyers argue that in China, the suspensions are experiencing a stronger load either due to the worst roads, or due to the careless actions of drivers.

All faulty cars were produced at the Tesla factory in. In USA early 2020, the company began producing vehicles at its Shanghai facility, after which the import of electric vehicles of the American manufacturer into the PRC amounted to only a few hundred a month.

The Shanghai Tesla enterprise is capable of producing 200 thousand cars a year. For several months, the production of machines at this enterprise reached 11 thousand per month, and in September dropped below this mark - to 10.881 thousand, according to the data of the state portal China Automotive Information Net.^[60]

Experts cheated Tesla autopilot with hacked billboard

Specialists at David Ben-Gurion University in the Negev (Israel) were able to deceive the autopilot of a Tesla car by displaying the Stop sign on the billboard for just a split second. This became known on October 13, 2020. According to them, if hackers manage to hack into a billboard connected to the Internet, they will be able to control traffic on the road and provoke an accident, without leaving any traces.

The attacker simply projects an image of something onto the road or inserts several personnel into the image on a digital billboard, and the car will use the brakes or possibly swerve, which is dangerous. The driver won't even notice it. So someone's car will just react, and no one will understand why, "writes Yisroel Mirsky, a researcher at David Ben-Gurion University.

At the first stage of the study in early 2020, a team of experts projected a human figure on the road, as well as road signs on trees and other surfaces. At night, when the projections were clearly visible, the researchers were able to deceive the Tesla Model X, which is equipped with the Autopilot HW2.5 driver assistance system (at that time the latest version), and the Mobileye 630 device. After "seeing" an image of a pedestrian projected for just a split second, the car stopped, and with the help of a projected road sign, the researchers were able to trick the Mobileye device into telling the driver to limit speed.

During the recent stage of the study, experts introduced personnel depicting the "Stop" road sign into digital billboards in an attempt to deceive the latest version of the HW3 autopilot. They again managed to deceive Tesla and force the same Mobileye device to issue erroneous warnings to the driver.

An image appearing for 0.42 seconds fools Tesla while an image appearing for just one-eighth of a second fools a Mobileye device, the researchers found^[61] autopilot^[62].

Tesla crossover blew off the roof after leaving the cabin

In early October 2020, a video appeared on the network in which a glass roof was blown away from a brand new Tesla Model Y crossover. This happened immediately after the car left the passenger compartment.

After Tesla began delivering the Model Y, new car owners repeatedly complained about the quality of the vehicle they purchased. Many of the problems over the past few months, according to the company, have been fixed, but new buyers continue to face unforeseen troubles.

Nathanael Chen, one of the new owners of the Model Y, shared his story on the Reddit platform. According to him, the roof of the brand new Model Y electric car flew off as his family returned home from the car dealership.

He wrote:

My father bought a new Model Y today and called me with him to the car dealership just in case he suddenly had technical problems. Everything was going well, we were driving home when we felt a strong whiff of wind. At first we thought that we had a window opened, but after a few seconds we completely demolished the panoramic roof of the car. Having survived the panic, we turned around and drove the new Tesla convertible back to the car dealership.

A company spokesman suggested that this car part was most likely forgotten to be glued in production or had a problem with the gasket. They promised to eliminate the defect in a short time at the expense of the company. A disappointed buyer refuses to take the electric car, he intends to issue a return, arguing his decision with low product quality.

As evidence, the author of the Reddit post attached a short video showing the movement of the new Model Y electric car along the highway. He also uploaded a photo showing the top of the crossover with damage in places where the panoramic roof connects to the windscreen frame.^[63]

Complaints about suspension defect

In early September 2020, buyers of the new Tesla Model Y electric crossover began to complain about the crumbling suspension. A month after the acquisition, the owners began to note extraneous sounds when moving, which they did not fail to report on the forum of motorists Tesla Motors Club. When visiting the service center, it was revealed that the reason for the appearance of knocks and creaks was the absence of a nut for attaching a ball support in the lower lever of the front suspension. With such a defect, the wheel can fall off the car on the road directly while driving.

Readers of the forum thread, where this problem was discussed, hastened to check their cars. Some Model Y owners were lucky, and the nut was still in place, although it was already weakened so much that it could be rotated without a wrench. Many buyers immediately contacted Tesla's service center and asked to drop off the car and ensure warranty repairs. Apparently, the reason was the negligence of employees at the Tesla plant. Experts explain the detected malfunction with a production error: either the nut was not tightened hard enough, or they missed this moment altogether. Interestingly, all the "problematic" electric cars are new and did not serve their owners for even one month.

Thus, buyers of the new Model Y electric crossover should keep in mind that a suspicious knock from the front suspension when the steering wheel turns sharply at low speeds or the deflection of the front wheel inside during parking can indicate a significant suspension defect. Although the quality of Tesla cars has repeatedly caused complaints among buyers, previously these problems were mainly cosmetic. However, the absence of a crown nut can lead to a serious accident.^[64]

Tesla electric car driver watched a movie while driving autopilot and crashed into a police car

At the end of August 2020, the driver electric vehicle Tesla USA got into accident, moving along the road in autopilot mode. Motorist was so confident in the safety of the automatic control system, which, according to him, was distracted from the road by watching films on smartphone.

The accident occurred in Nash County, North Carolina. Police officer stopped a company car on the side of the road to help another an employee who had previously been involved in an accident in his personal car.

At this moment, the Tesla Model S electric car crashed into a police car, which was thrown onto the sheriff's car from the blow. Thus, in an accident three cars were damaged at once, while people did not injured: traffic police officers managed to move to side.

At the same time, vehicles were seriously injured: a patrol car lost the front bumper, headlamp and wing. The second policeman the car flew off the left rear wheel, and the wing and doors crumpled from collisions with another car.

The driver was found guilty of several state traffic violations. Into them number of the rule according to which you need to change the lane and slow down if the car made ahead on the side of the road emergency stop. Also, a motorist will be fined for illegal "placing the TV in the cabin."

It turned out that the most loaded on the pre-styling Model S the first version of the Autopilot system, which has never been updated and therefore, it did not recognize objects well in the dark.

In July 2020, a similar incident involving a Tesla car occurred in the southwestern United States. Electric car crashed into a parked patrol car, which in turn hit the one standing in front of him reanimobile. Tesla driver claimed at the time of the collision the car was moving on autopilot.^[65]

Sudden fire: US authorities find new marriage in Tesla electric cars

On July 1, 2020, it became known that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a series of investigations related to defects in the battery cooling system in early models. electric vehicles Tesla Malfunctions could potentially cause a fire.

Representatives of Business Insider report that the results of research organized by employees of IMR Test Labs proved that early versions of Tesla electric vehicles, we are talking about Model S were at least two serious problems that are associated with the battery cooling system. Experts have found that the cooling system includes aluminum elements that are susceptible to depressurization during operation. As a result of the loss of tightness, the coolant can enter critical components, causing corrosion, short circuit and, as a result, fire.

The company was aware of faults in Tesla's Model S cooling system, according to people familiar with the situation at Tesla. Still, sales continued - the company's third-quarter 2012 report alone said it was selling more than 250 sedans.

Until 2016, Tesla collaborated with Chinese equipment suppliers, where defects were discovered, after which the company began to produce the necessary parts on its own. So, there are suspicions that Tesla Model X cars, whose production began in 2015, may have a similar problem. However, there are no complaints about the Tesla Model 3, since this model uses a different cooling system.

Tesla Model S malfunctions are also being investigated by representatives of the National Safety Council (NTSB transport). They, however, do not have powers like NHTSA to hold the company accountable - Tesla is likely to face hefty fines.^[66]

Tesla car quality turns out to be worst

At the end of June 2020, it became known that Tesla received the worst score among 32 major auto brands in the J.D. Power quality study. Tesla cars got the last place due to various problems reported by the owners. Read more here.

Tesla electric car on autopilot crashes into a van on the track

In early June 2020, an accident occurred in Taiwan involving a Tesla Model 3 electric car. In autopilot mode, he crashed into an overturned truck.

The incident occurred on the morning of June 1 on the National Highway No. 1. According to the cna.com.tw, the van carrying salads and ready-made breakfasts lost control and overturned. While the truck driver was standing on the side of the road waiting for help, a Tesla Model 3 electric car appeared on the highway, driving in the inner lane directly to the truck. Although all this was happening in the middle of a clear and sunny day, an electric car crashed into a truck at full speed without trying to turn off the road.

There was only one person in the vehicle who was seriously injured. According to the CNA article, the driver expected the budo car to brake without his participation.

According to police, Tesla driver Huang said he turned on the vehicle assist system and was driving at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour, the article says. - The driver decided that the car itself will detect an obstacle and automatically brake, but, to his surprise, the electric car did not even slow down.

Thus, the driver used either adaptive cruise control or some other form of Tesla autopilot. The company has already had problems with the Autopilot system, which should not be considered an autonomous driving system. Tesla's Autopilot is just a safety-focused driver assistance program that can't act in its place.

Autopilot and fully autonomous driving are permissible only if there is an extremely attentive driver who holds his hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take control at any time, Tesla representatives recalled on the company's website.[67]

Tesla electric car's steering wheel falls off while driving a month after purchase

In Britain, the electric car Tesla Model 3 fell off the steering wheel right while driving. Moreover, this car was bought only a month ago, its owner, 43-year-old Jason Tuatara, told The New York Post. The article was published on May 9, 2020.

According to the motorist, a dangerous breakdown occurred at the end of a 30-km stretch of track that he overcame on an electric car. Fortunately, the steering gear broke off at low speed, which allowed the driver to quickly stop and prevent dangerous situations for himself and others. At the time of the incident, Tuatara drove a total of 550 km in his car.

The car owner immediately wrote about the incident on Twitter, referring to the head of the company, Elon Musk.

Today my Tesla's steering wheel fell off! Now I worry that the whole car will fall apart. How could this happen to a car that is only a month old? - asked the Briton.

Tesla responded to the British message and took the car for repair. The sedan was returned to the owner the next day with zakrep­lyonnym steering wheel. For some reason, elektro­mobilya have otsut­stvo­valo main bolted connection.

The company has begun checking the sluchiv­shegosya. The British agency also rassledo­vaniye its standarti­zatsii beginning by trans­portnykh funds.

In addition, Jason Tuatara complained about the long delivery of the Tesla Model 3. According to him, he ordered the car in October 2019, but was able to get it only in March 2020. Most likely, this delay is associated with restrictive measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The owner of the car said that he had long been a Tesla fan and dreamed of becoming the owner of an electric car of this brand for about 8 years, so he was not going to stop using the Tesla Model 3, despite the unpleasant incident.^[68]

Implementation of the automatic braking function at the red light and in front of the Stop sign

At the end of April 2020, it became known that Tesla electric cars can now independently brake at a red light and before a stop sign thanks to a software update.

This update was initially only available to some Tesla owners who posted videos of the new capabilities. Now, the automaker is pushing the software update across the board for wider user reach. However, the new feature is not available in all Tesla cars: the electric car should be equipped with the latest Hardware 3 package and the full optional Autopilot package, which the company positions as a "full autopilot."

At the same time, Tesla cars are not considered self-driving, and the new feature has its own limitations. It only slows Tesla cars to a stop when using "traffic-aware cruise control" or "Autosteer." When a vehicle approaches an intersection where the green light changes to yellow or red is already on, the vehicle will notify the driver of its intention to slow down. Then the car will begin to slow down and stop at the red line indicated for the convenience of the user on the center display. Owners must press once on the autopilot lever or press the accelerator pedal themselves to continue. Tesla notes that at first this function will often slow down the car, "but over time control will become more natural."

In release notes, Tesla warns that "as with other Autopilot features, you should monitor the road yourself and be prepared to respond immediately to an emergency, including braking, as this feature cannot cover all traffic control techniques."^[69]

Tesla recalls 15,000 defective electric vehicles

On February 12, 2020, it became known about the recall of about 15 thousand Tesla electric vehicles, in which problems with steering were found. Dealers are subject to return 14,193 Model X crossovers in the United States and 843 in Canada. We are talking about vehicles of the 2016 model year, produced no later than mid-October.

The problem in these machines is that the aluminum bolts with which the power steering is attached to the gearbox body are susceptible to corrosion, and a possible breakdown of these bolts can lead to power loss or complete failure of the power steering. This means that to drive a car, especially at low speed, for example, when maneuvering in a parking lot, the driver will have to apply significant efforts to the steering wheel.

It is noted that this marriage is especially relevant for countries with a cold climate, where roads are often sprinkled with deicing reagents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), controlled by the US Department of Transportation, and Transport Canada, so far no traffic accidents have been reported related to the malfunction identified in Tesla Model X.

In service centers in potentially defective cars, suspension bolts and, if necessary, the entire steering mechanism will be replaced. All work will be carried out free of charge for car owners. The manufacturer says motorists can continue to operate the Model X until Tesla representatives contact them.

Problems in electric cars, due to which Tesla is forced to recall its products, occur from time to time. Over the years, the company conducted reviews of electric cars due to faulty seats, defective seat belt locks and exploding Takata airbags.^[70]

Apple engineer who died driving Tesla complained about incorrect operation of autopilot at the scene of an accident

In mid-February 2020, it became known that an Apple engineer who died driving a Tesla Model X when hitting a concrete barrier on a freeway in Silicon Valley complained before his death about the incorrect operation of Autopilot in the area of ​ ​ the accident.

The complaints were detailed in documents transport USA released by the National Safety Council, which is investigating the 2018 crash. The documents say that Walter Huang told his wife about autopilot malfunctions: the system turned the car in the direction of the same barrier near Mountain View, California, where Juan later crashed.

Walter said that in the morning, when he drives to work, the car turns to the barrier, the lawyer of the Huang family said in response to questions from the media. Huang also talked about Autopilot malfunctions to his brother and friend, who also owned the Model X. As a software engineer, Huang discussed with a friend whether the software patch could affect the performance of the X model and change the behavior of the Autopilot.

Shortly before the crash, Huang took his Tesla to a service center to correct a "navigation error," the lawyer said in a statement. But Tesla engineers were unable to replicate the problem and the software bug was never fixed. Huang's family sued Tesla and the California Department of Transportation.

Tesla's Autopilot is a partially automated system that must keep the vehicle in a given lane and maintain a safe distance relative to vehicles in front. It can also change lanes with the driver's permission. Tesla claims that Autopilot only helps the driver, who must constantly remain vigilant and drive on his own.

Haun's hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2020. By this time, experts must determine the cause of the accident and give safety recommendations.^[71]

Disconnecting Autopilots in Electric Cars Bought Not from Official Dealers

In early February 2020, Tesla disabled a number of features, including autopilot, in a Model S electric car bought from a third-party dealer. The dealer himself purchased the car at Tesla auction in 2019, and, apparently, Tesla believes that since the new owner of the car did not pay for some functions directly to the company, they could well be turned off.

The car was originally purchased with all the necessary software and advertised by the dealer as such in the subsequent sale of the car. However, when the car passed to its new owner, Tesla remotely conducted a software audit and disabled a number of features. Now the company claims that if the new owner wants to return these functions, he needs to personally pay Tesla $8,000, that is, the cost of the software package added to the original cost of the car when buying directly from the company.

When the new owner contacted Tesla, he was told the following:

Tesla found cases of incorrect configuration of Autopilot software that was not paid by the buyer. An audit was conducted to identify such cases and correct the error. Your car is one of the vehicles with an incorrect autopilot setup, as you did not pay for the "Full-Self Driving" feature. We apologize for the misunderstandings. If you are still interested in receiving these additional features, you can purchase the necessary updates. "

The legality of Tesla's actions has not yet been determined, but the situation itself speaks volumes. Cars hooked up to the network collect and transmit a huge amount of data that the owner is unaware of, and there are increasingly situations when automakers can remotely disable functions where physical access was previously required.^[72]

Dozens of drivers complained about the sudden and involuntary acceleration of cars

In mid-January 2020, in response to a petition filed with NHTSA complaining of a "sudden unexpected acceleration" of various models, electric vehicles Tesla the manufacturing company issued a statement that all allegations presented were "absolutely false." Tesla called the person who filed the petition a speculator - it turned out that Brian Sparks, an independent investor who buys Tesla shares, presented the petition.

A petition seeking an investigation filed by independent investor Brian Sparks contained 127 complaints from Tesla electric car owners of different models and years of production.

We investigate every case where a driver claims that their vehicle accelerates without his intervention, Tesla claims. - In all cases, having received the data of the car, we confirmed that the mechanism worked in full accordance with the instructions without any failures.

Tesla's relationship with state regulators, including NHTSA and the NTSB, can hardly be called calm. However, in a statement, Tesla claims the company "has passed all NHTSA reviews and regularly [reviews] customer complaints about unintentional acceleration along with regulators." The company claims most of the complaints from the petition have already been reviewed by regulators, with "data confirming that the vehicles were functioning normally."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long railed against speculators, claiming they spread false information about his company and are funded by oil companies. He once stated in an interview with The New York Times that speculators are "desperately trying to change the public opinion that can lead to the collapse of Tesla." Musk's efforts to confront the speculators led the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to sue him.

NHTSA said it would consider the petition as part of its "standard practice applied in such matters."^[73]

2019

Tesla Knew Faulty Autopilot Was Killing Drivers, but Didn't Fix It

In mid-August 2023, it became known that Tesla had known for several years about the shortcomings of its autopilot system, leading to fatal accidents, but did not take measures to eliminate the problem.

The first incident with the death of a driver who was driving a Tesla Model S electric car with an activated autopilot occurred in 2016 in Florida. Joshua Brown was driving. The car crashed into a trailer with a trailer that crossed the road in the transverse direction. It was said that the accident could have occurred due to the fact that Brown exceeded the speed and did not notice the white trailer in time against the background of a brightly lit sky. However, in 2019, under similar circumstances, 50-year-old father of three children Jeremy Banner died, who crashed into a tractor with a trailer moving in the transverse direction in a Model 3 car. It turned out that 10 seconds before the fatal accident, the man activated Autopilot.

Banner's family sued Tesla. The testimony of former company engineers Chris Payne and Nicklas Gustafsson states that Tesla's autopilot system in 2016-2019 was not trained to respond to vehicles moving in the transverse direction. Moreover, after the fatal accident in 2016, the company did not make any changes to the onboard software that would help avoid such incidents in the future. This led to the death of Banner.

Banner's widow revised the list of claims against Tesla, saying that Elon Musk's company should have made changes to the autopilot system after Brown's death in 2016, but did not. It is noted that Tesla is also at the center of numerous investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into possible autopilot defects that could have caused at least 17 deaths from June 2021 to August 2023.^[74]

Half of Tesla electric cars sold with defects

Nearly half of Tesla's Model 3 electric vehicles are sold with defects. Such data are provided in a study conducted by Bloomberg and released at the end of October 2019.

Motorists complain that electric cars are coming off conveyors with paint chips, displaced elements, and in some cases with mechanical malfunctions. True, the manufacturer is being corrected.

In the third quarter of 2018, when Tesla first started production of the Model 3, a survey found that there were 80 faults per 100 electric machines sold. A year later, the share of defective vehicles decreased to 44%.

Most of the problems are related to the exterior of the car, mainly with paint, which 12% of respondents complained about. The next most common problems were large gaps between the body panels, and then scratches and dents. In total, almost 5 thousand Tesla Model 3 owners were interviewed.

Between January 2018 and September 2019, new Model 3 owners reported an average of 66 problems per 100 cars purchased. Bloomberg notes that it is difficult to draw direct comparisons between Tesla and other automakers.

Earlier in 2019, JD Power analysts surveyed consumers who bought new cars. The study showed 91 problems per 100 cars, but Tesla was not considered by analysts.

Consumer Reports does not recommend buying a Tesla Model 3 electric car, explaining its decision with a number of significant shortcomings in the sedan.

In particular, the complaints were caused by an ineffective braking system, due to which the braking distance of the Tesla Model 3 was much longer than that of any modern passenger car (46 meters when braking at a speed of 100 km/h). In addition, hard-to-reach controls have earned criticism.^[75]

Thousands of Tesla owners unable to open cars due to app crash

In early September 2019, Tesla electric car owners faced a massive problem: they could not open the car due to an application failure.

To unlock the central lock of the Tesla electric car, you can use a key card with a radio ­ ­ tag, a keychain or a mobile application. The latter method became so popular with some car owners that they stopped carrying physical keys with them. It was these users who were taken by surprise on September 2, 2019, when the smartphone program failed and they could not get into the car.

There have been numerous complaints on social media from electric car owners. For example, a Twitter user writes under the nickname @ ethlie.

Hey, Tesla. Love my Model 3... Only now the application is not updated, does not allow me to log in and says that I do not have a car. I am waiting for the response of technical support for an hour. Has my new car turned into a red brick?

Tesla, what's up there with the network? I got stuck at the charging station. Trying to get to the house with a key fob, I started the car through the application. Nothing has been working for three hours. Help! - wrote user @ kkicinski.

The automaker confirmed the problem, but did not give the reason for its occurrence. According to the Extreme Tech portal, the failure was observed for 3.5 hours. During this period, motorists called Tesla complaining about the problem.

At the same time, the car could be opened using a physical key or key fob, which are included in the package.

The technical problem of the Tesla application is also zafiksi­roval by the Downdetector website, which monitors problems on various sites, as well as user complaints on social networks. In total, over a thousand complaints were noted, mainly svyazan­nykh with nevozmozh­nostyu avtori­zovatsya in the Tesla application.^[76]

Tesla car burned down in Moscow after an accident in electronic assistant mode

On August 10, 2019, at the 37th km of the Moscow Ring Road To Moscow , an accident occurred with participation, electric vehicle Tesla which was moving in the mode of an electronic assistant.

The Tesla driver turned out to be the general director of the Arikapital management company, 41-year-old Alexei Tretyakov, who was driving with two children.

I was driving along the Moscow Ring Road, in the left lane, at a speed of 100 km/h and did not notice the parked tow truck car. Tesla crashed sideways and then caught fire, - Tretyakov told REN TV.

The man added that he was not driving a full-fledged autopilot, but driving with the "driver's assistant" function turned on. According to Tretyakov, he escaped with a broken leg, and the children sitting in the back seat with slight bruises.

A video appeared on the Internet, the author of which filmed the moment of the explosion of the electric car of the Tesla electric car. The personnel clearly shows flashes, after which the car was almost completely engulfed in fire and thick smoke. The car was completely destroyed.

Managing partner of Moscow Tesla Club Igor Antarov, in a conversation with the Moscow 24 TV channel, said that the Tesla electric car is being trained while driving autopilot.^[77]

The so-called border situations - for example, a car standing in the lanes, without moving, on the left lane of the Moscow Ring Road - this is clearly a wrong situation, some warning signs should be displayed. These border situations are the most difficult for any automatic driving system, and the only way to learn how to avoid them is to roll up sufficient statistics, "said Antarov.

This is not the first time a Tesla electric car has crashed into parked vehicles in autopilot mode. Tesla says that drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel even with autopilot turned on in order to take control of the car if necessary.

Battery capacity in Tesla electric vehicles drops after software update. Riding without recharging is reduced by 64 km

In early August 2019, the owner electric vehicle Tesla filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, claiming that the company limited the battery capacity of older cars with an update. ON This scheme, according to the plaintiff, was supposed to help the company avoid the expensive recall of faulty batteries under the pretext of "buyer protection."

Thousands of owners of the S and X models around the world have already noticed that the range of their older generation batteries has suddenly shrunk, with some by as much as 40 miles (64km). This topic was hotly discussed in special forums such as TeslaMotorsClub.com, where many owners spoke in detail about the problem that arose after the next software update. Some users claim that the restriction was introduced on purpose - thereby the company is trying to depreciate the car, forcing the owners to purchase a new model.

Plaintiff David Rasmussen, owner of the 85,2014 S model, notes a decrease in battery capacity by about 8 kW/h, but Tesla claims that this decrease was imminent. A company spokesman added that the decision was related to ensuring the safety of the car - after a case of spontaneous combustion of an electric car in Hong Kong, the manufacturer carefully revised the charge and temperature control settings on the cars S and X models. The purpose of the software update was to "protect the battery and extend its life." However, the company has taken into account user claims and is working on the problem.

According to posts on the Teslamotorsclub.com forum, some owners dealt with the problem on their own: some sold cars, others went to court for compensation, and others simply turned off Wi-Fi in an electric car to avoid software updates.^[78]

Cracks in Tesla electric cars are closed with duct tape. PHOTO

On July 15, 2019, it became known that Tesla factory workers use duct tape to fill cracks in parts of electric vehicles. An article on working conditions and violations of production regulations at the company's California facility in Fremont (USA) was published by CNBC.

Four people working on the conveyor told the TV channel that the leaders recommend using an insulating cable tape to eliminate damage to plastic tubes and cases. In support of this, photographs of Model 3 elements made of plastic were provided, the cracks in which were hastily sealed with duct tape. 

Several interlocutors also said that the plant has to work in the heat during the day and in the cold at night. In addition, during the wildfires in California in 2018, factory shops were in smoke that ventilation could not cope with. Workers also said they were neglecting tests to detect water leaks.

To understand what conditions are in question, it is worth noting that the plant is called a "tent" due to the presence of an assembly line under the tent canopy. Such a solution was supposed to be temporary - while equipment and robots were set up inside the factory premises. But the tent has been around for four years, the publication said.

The Tesla press service called the photos a joke common among employees that is misleading and does not reflect the conditions for assembling an electric car model.

However, the press has repeatedly reported on difficult working conditions at Tesla, and the founder and head of the company, Elon Musk, called them "production hell."

We are working hard to create the safest, most honest and most fun work environment possible. It is very important for us that employees look forward to the start of a new working day, Tesla said.[79]

Fatal crash involving Tesla Model 3

On May 17, 2019, it became known about an accident involving the Tesla Model 3. Autopilot's adaptive cruise control system was turned car on at the time of the deadly crash, which occurred in March 2019, when a passenger drove under a semi-trailer, according to a preliminary report by the National Council on safety. transport USA

In 2015, Tesla updated customers' cars and added Autopilot, an adaptive cruise control system, to them. Since then, the company has updated the system many times and as of May 2019, Tesla cars are able to move partially autonomously along highways, controlling acceleration, steering wheel turn and changing lanes. At the same time, Tesla formally obliges the driver to monitor the traffic situation, keep his hands on the steering wheel and be always ready to intervene in the system. The car in autopilot mode monitors the presence of hands on the steering wheel and warns the driver with sound signals if you remove your hands. However, many industry experts criticized the company for exaggerating the capabilities of the adaptive cruise control system. For example, the company sells the most feature-rich version of the cruise control system called Full Self-Driving Capability, which is why some customers take the name literally and take the car as completely unmanned, while the system does not even reach the third level of autonomy out of five (according to SAE classification).

On March 1, 2019, a Tesla Model 3 car was involved in a traffic accident in the US state of Florida, as a result of which the driver died. The National Safety Council on the transport United States (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the accident and published a preliminary report. Shortly before the incident, the car was driving along highway 441 in Florida. A few seconds before the collision on the right, a truck tractor with a semi-trailer drove out of the adjacent road across the Tesla, after which the passenger car crashed into the upper part of the body into a semi-trailer. Due to the collision, the semi-trailer actually cut off the roof of the car, which at the same time continued to move, stopping almost 500 meters from the collision site. The report notes that after entering the motorway, the truck braked, thereby blocking the path of the car.

NTSB experts found that at the time of the collision, the car was under the control of the Autopilot system, but neither it nor the driver tried to avoid the collision. The system was activated 10 seconds before the collision and two seconds after activation, the driver removed his hands from the steering wheel, according to sensor readings. In addition, the car was traveling at 109 kilometers per hour at the time of the collision, although the maximum permitted speed on this section of the road is 89 kilometers per hour (55 mph). Tesla confirmed that the Autopilot system was turned on at the time of the accident, but recalled that drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel and monitor the situation.

This accident is almost completely similar to the first fatal accident involving Autopilot, which happened in 2016. Then the car also did not notice the truck that drove onto the track and drove under its semi-trailer. It turned out that the Autopilot system did not notice the white semi-trailer against the background of the light sky on the data from the cameras, and the data from the radar did not help in this situation, because the system was configured to ignore the high obstacles. Tesla has been repeatedly criticized by experts in the self-driving car industry for its approach to automating driving. In particular, Tesla is known for its fundamental rejection of lidars, which provide direct data on volumetric objects around the car, unlike cameras, which can be ambiguously interpreted as in the case of a white trailer against a light sky.

This case was the third reliably confirmed fatal accident with the Autopilot system turned on. In addition to the mentioned case in 2016, another traffic accident occurred in 2018. In addition, relatives of China the Tesla Model S owner who died in 2016 have been suing Tesla for several years, claiming that the autopilot was turned on at the time of the accident, but the company says it cannot confirm this due to damage computer in the car.^[80]

Tesla's electric car exploded for no reason in the parking lot. Video

On April 22, 2019, Tesla announced the start of an investigation into the causes of the explosion of an electric car on the Model S at the first level of underground parking in Shanghai. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras.

As you can see in the video, at some point white smoke begins to flow from under the car, and after a few seconds it explodes, causing damage to the neighboring car. As the Shine edition clarified with reference to firefighters, cars standing nearby and were injured Audi. Lexus

According to the owner of the exploded Tesla electric car, the car was bought about three and a half years ago and there were no serious problems with it. He also added that the electric car was not recharging at the time of the fire.

After receiving information about the incident in Shanghai yesterday, we immediately sent a team to the scene, Tesla said in a statement on the company's official Weibo social media page.

The automaker also said that no one was injured as a result of the incident. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated.

From 2013 to April 2019, at least 14 cases of Tesla car fires were registered, with the majority occurring after the accident. Tesla said earlier that its electric vehicles were about 10 times less likely to catch fire compared to those powered by a gasoline engine. ^[81]]

In Shanghai, where another Tesla electric car fire occurred, the American company is building its first car factory outside the United States. The total investment is estimated at about 50 billion yuan (about $7.4 billion). By 2020, the plant plans to launch the assembly of the Tesla Model 3 model and gradually reach annual production of up to 500 thousand cars. Some assembly lines are expected to be operational by the end of 2019.

Famous jeweler found himself locked in Tesla electric car for a long time

In early April 2019, the famous jeweler Ben Baller shared on social networks a story about how he was locked in, electric vehicle Tesla after which the company canceled his meeting with the CEO. Elon Musk

Baller is the co-founder and head of Los Angeles-based diamond jewelry maker If & Co. Baller is a longtime Tesla fan, but he still posted on Instagram about being locked in a Model X P100D SUV. The electric car went into reduced power mode, blocking all windows and doors, so that Baller was able to get out of it only after 47 minutes through the trunk.

Soon after the publication, Musk's assistant contacted the jeweler, who said that his meeting with the CEO of the company was being canceled. She also asked that henceforth Baller, when problems arise with Tesla, contact the technical support department, and not publish information on social networks.

It is worth noting that the meeting was scheduled after Baller gave Musk a $37,000 ring with Tesla's name and logo as a gift. The jeweller said he would sell the ring at auction and donate the money he earned to charity. Baller also said he understood why their meeting was canceled, but noted that the electric car incident raised serious concerns for him about the safety of Tesla products. He directly put it that he would never let his children go to such a car - Baller's child suffers from bronchial asthma, and he is not going to risk his son's health, waiting for the response of the technical support service.

Baller said Tesla allowed him to terminate his Model X lease early at no additional cost. Representatives of the company so far refuse to comment on what happened at the request of the media.^[82]

Tesla Model can be hacked and directed to the oncoming lane

In early April 2019, the Chinese company Tencent Keen Security, specializing in information security, spoke about the method of hacking Tesla autopilot, as a result of which an electric car can independently enter the oncoming lane of the road, creating a serious danger.

According to the researchers, Tesla Autopilot's adaptive cruise control system may incorrectly recognize points on the asphalt, take them as road markings and roll them up so as not to cross a non-existent markup line, including by entering the oncoming lane.

The experiment was carried out in two stages. On the first of these, the existing marking line was unevenly sealed with white patches. In such a scenario, the machine may not "see" part or all of the lane.

At the second stage, the existing markup was not distorted - a new one was added. Experts applied three white squares to the asphalt, which partially blocked the lane and led to the oncoming one. The car recognized them as an extension of the right line and, ignoring the left, drove into another lane.

The researchers were also able to access the steering system via autopilot and control the car from a wireless gamepad. Moreover, it was possible to seize control even when the autopilot was turned off.

In addition, information security specialists have found a way to deceive the system responsible for the operation of windshield wipers in the Tesla Model S. "Wipers" do not just respond to water entering the windshield, but are activated if machine vision recognizes bad weather. The Chinese put a screen in front of the electric car with an image created using a special algorithm, and the wipers turned on. 

Tesla responded to the experiment. The company said that hackers deliberately placed false signs on the road and changed the markings, which is hardly possible in real life. The manufacturer also stressed that in case of an autopilot error, the driver must immediately take control or slow down.^[83]

Recall of 14,123  electric cars due to defective airbags

In January 2019, Tesla Motors announced the recall of more than 14 thousand electric vehicles due to defective airbags manufactured by Takata.

The service campaign included 14,123  copies of the Tesla Model S, sold China from February 4, 2014 to December 9, 2016, China the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said in a statement. Recall and replacement will be made from April 10, 2019.

All recalled electric vehicles were produced in the United States. In early 2019, Tesla launched construction of its Shanghai plant to offer cut-price electric vehicles to Chinese customers. The launch of production of the Tesla Model 3 sedan at the Shanghai factory is scheduled for the end of 2019.

In addition to Tesla electric cars, tens of millions of other brands equipped with faulty Takata airbags have been recalled around the world, which may not open in an accident or work spontaneously in cases where it is not necessary, "shooting" with metal fragments. Because of this defect  , about 20 people died, more than 100 were injured of varying severity.

As explained in SAMR, the parts in the airbags were created on the basis of ammonium nitrate without a desiccant, which is why there is a high risk that they will burst into pieces and injure passengers and the driver of the car. Takata went bankrupt after it became known about a number of deaths due to defects in the airbags of their production.

Tesla reported that the recall of Model S electric vehicles with defective airbags released in 2012 began in 2017, and in 2018 the 2013 model year cars were recalled. In 2019, the manufacturer reached cars sold in 2014-2016.^[84]

2018

Former Tesla employee reveals defective batteries that were put in electric cars

In August 2018, former Tesla Motors employee Martin Tripp posted photos on the Internet that, according to him, depict defective batteries installed in Model 3 electric vehicles.

In late June 2018, it became known about a lawsuit between Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk and Martin Tripp, whom the engineer himself calls a "saboteur" because of the use of defective components.

According to Musk, Tripp hacked into the company's internal systems and stole industrial secrets. Tripp himself believes that the former employer was angry at him because of criticism - he pointed out defects in the assembly of the Model 3 sedan, which the businessman did not like very much.

You should be ashamed of slandering other people. You are a terrible person, "Musk wrote in private correspondence with Tripp.

To prove his case, Tripp posted several photos on the social network Twitter that allegedly showed damaged batteries. Pictures of vehicle identification numbers were also published, which, according to the ex-Tesla employee, were sent from the plant with faulty punctured battery packs.

Tripp later deleted his @ trippedover account, likely frightened by the lawsuits. Photos disappeared with him , but they remained in the cache of the Google search engine.

Tripp's lawyer, in a conversation with CNBC, noted that the client's account was not hacked. At the same time, the lawyer could not explain the reasons for the removal of the content.

Tesla itself denies the use of punctured batteries in electric vehicles ever. The company assured that cars with the VIN codes published by Tripp are equipped with fully functional and safe batteries.^[85]

Tesla tricked out subsidies for electric vehicles. Motorists must pay 4 thousand euros

In July 2018, it became known that Tesla Motors fraudulently knocked out subsidies for electric vehicles. Now the owners of Model S must pay 4 thousand euros to the state.

According to the Bloomberg news agency, citing a statement by the German Federal Service for Economics and Export Control (BAFA), the agency demanded that Tesla Model S buyers return the subsidy for electric cars to local authorities. The fact is that these cars are too expensive for their buyers to claim financial assistance from the state.

The payout program was designed specifically to increase sales of electric cars and hybrid cars equipped with an internal combustion engine and a large battery electric motor. 

Initially, benefits in Germany extended only to electric vehicles worth no more than 60 thousand euros, which corresponds to the price of the Tesla Model S in the basic configuration. However, Tesla was never able to put the cars in this configuration on the German market, and more expensive options are not subject to subsidies. Judging by the information on the Tesla website in Germany, the cost of the Model S, depending on the configuration, starts at 92.55 thousand euros and reaches 139.8 thousand euros.

According to German authorities, unreasonable benefits were issued to about 800 Tesla customer motorists. In addition, 250 more people applied for compensation, but after the claims of the BAFA they were refused.

Tesla promised to understand the situation and appeal the decision of the Federal Service for Economics and Export Control. The manufacturer also intends to cover the cost of the subsidy until the problem is resolved.

As stated on our website, anyone in Germany could always order a basic version of the S model, which was below the required price level, and we delivered such cars to customers, the company said.[86]

Tesla electric car in autopilot mode rammed a police car

At the end of May 2018, another accident occurred with participation, electric vehicle Tesla which was driving in mode. autopilot This time there was a collision with a police car.

According to the Associated Press, citing police, a Tesla Model sedan crashed into a police SUV parked at the side of the road. The incident occurred on May 29, 2019 in Lagun Scourge (Southern California, USA).

As a result of an accident, the driver of the electric car received minor injuries. The police were not injured because they were not in the car at the time of the collision. The vehicles themselves were badly damaged. A police car was thrown onto the sidewalk, which he climbed with two wheels.

The blow fell on the left side of the police car. Tesla's electric car was reportedly moving in automatic control mode.

The autopilot system in Tesla-made machines has been increasingly criticized in 2018. The cars equipped with it have been involved in accidents more than once, including fatal ones. Tesla says that this technology is not designed to work without human participation. It is an electronic assistant and can adjust the course of the car or use the brakes, but the driver should still keep his hands on the steering wheel and be ready to take control if necessary.

On May 11, 2018, an accident occurred in the city of Salt Lake City when a Tesla Model driven by an autopilot, when approaching a parked fire truck, instead of braking, accelerated and crashed into it. As a result of an accident, a woman driving a Tesla received a broken ankle.

In May 2018, a Tesla Model 3, moving in autopilot mode, had an accident in Greece. It is noted that this is the first such accident involving a budget sedan from Tesla in Europe.^[87]

Tesla electric car driver crashes into bump stop and burns out in car

On May 10, 2018, a new disaster occurred with the participation in electric vehicle Tesla which a person died. The driver of the car crashed into a bump stop on the A2 along the Monte Cheneri pass near the Swiss city of Bellinzona. A fire broke out and the man burned in the car.

Local prosecutors are investigating the deadly incident. The version of firefighters is being checked, according to which the electric car batteries could have caused the fire, Reuters reported on May 16.^[88]

According to local police, a 48-year-old German citizen was killed in the crash. Crashing into a separation barrier on the track, his car overturned and caught fire. The circumstances of the accident are still being clarified.

After the incident, a team of firefighters from Bellinzona wrote on their Facebook page that an uncontrolled heating of the lithium-ion batteries of an electric car could lead to a fire before the collision. The comment was subsequently deleted.

When asked by journalists by phone, firefighters replied that an investigation was underway and avoided further explanations, reports The Associated Press. ^[89]]

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office in the southern canton of Ticino told Reuters it was premature to talk about the causes of the accident as authorities were still looking into what could have led to the incident.

"The only thing that can be said with confidence is that Tesla's electric car was involved in the accident," he added. The prosecutors did not say when to wait for the results of the investigation.

We are deeply saddened by the disaster and are working to establish the circumstances of the incident, as well as offer our full assistance to local authorities, Tesla said about the accident.

The press service added that the company has not yet received any data, and therefore does not know the facts of what happened. Apparently, we are talking about a collision at high speed, noted in Tesla.

Tesla driver drove a passenger seat and lost his license

At the end of April 2018, a British court sentenced 39-year-old driver Bhavesh Patel, who electric vehicle Tesla activated the mode while driving a Model S autopilot and moved to a passenger seat. The police became interested in the violation after a passing motorist posted a video in. Internet

The incident occurred in May 2017. The car Patel was in was travelling on the M1 in the city of Nottingham at about 60km/h. At the same time, there was no one driving the car, and the owner of the car was in the passenger seat, folding his hands behind his head.

Patel was found guilty of dangerous driving and sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He was also stripped of his driving licence for a period of 18 months and fined £1,800, which the offender will have to pay to the Crown Prosecution Service in compensation for expenses. In addition, Patel will have to complete a 10-day correctional course.

Bhavesh Patel pleaded guilty and called his act stupid, but noted that he was simply unlucky while testing the "amazing" function, The Guardian newspaper reports.

He was endangering not only his own life, but the lives of other innocent people who moved along the road that day. This case should be an example for all drivers who have access to autopilot and make them think before doing something like this, "said investigator Kirk Caldicutt, who handled the case.

Tesla engineers, who were brought in to investigate the incident, recalled that the autopilot system, including cruise control and the taxiing function, are only intended to help the driver, who is completely focused on the road.^[90]

Autopilot kills Tesla electric crossover driver

At the end of March 2018, it became known about a fatal accident in which electric vehicle Tesla the Model X got into. At the time of the accident, the car was driving in automatic control mode.

The accident occurred on March 23 on Highway 101 in Mountain View (California USA ,). The car, moving when activated, autopilot crashed into a bump stop. The dead driver was engineer Apple Walter Huang. They managed to get him out of the car before the fire, but he unfortunately died in hospital from injuries sustained at the time of the collision.

Tesla revealed the details of the investigation, despite the "secret" stamp, for which it received criticism from the US National Security Council transport (NTSB).

The Model X autopilot was activated before the fatal crash and the driver's hands were not on the steering wheel for six seconds before the collision with the separation barrier, according to a Tesla report. The company claims the driver did not respond to visual and audible warnings from car electronics about returning to manual control of the vehicle, and could also see the barrier for five seconds and approximately 150m, but took no action.

A few moments before the collision, autopilot mode worked, adaptive cruise control was set to "minimum," Tesla said.

The NTSB said that all aspects of the accident will be investigated, including suggestions that this driver had previously expressed concern about the autopilot system. Tesla claims it has no information about the driver's complaints.

Walter Huang crashed into a chipper section that did not have a special buffer designed to soften the blow. He did not have time to replace after some other accident that happened in the same place a little earlier. Tesla says that the consequences of the accident could not be so deplorable in the event of a buffer.^[91]

Recall of 123 thousand machines due to defective bolts

In late March 2018, Tesla Motors began recalling tens of thousands of electric vehicles due to defective bolts in the steering system.

The service campaign included 123 thousand Tesla Model S cars, produced until April 2016 around the world. They require the replacement of power steering bolts, which have undergone "excessive corrosion."

The company noted that reagents with calcium or magnesium salts used to prevent icing on the roads have a negative impact on the bolts. When using table salt by road services, such problems do not arise. The bolts were produced by the German company Bosch.

If the bolts break, the driver will still be able to drive, but this will require force. This primarily creates difficulties for driving at low speeds and for parallel parking, but does not significantly affect control at high speed, Tesla said in a statement.

The company noted that there were no incidents and injuries associated with a defect in electric cars. Even with a breakdown, the driver would have retained control of the car, but would have experienced some inconvenience, Tesla reports.

The manufacturer began sending out a notification to owners of electric vehicles with a possible malfunction about the need to come to the nearest Tesla dealership to fix the problem. It takes no more than an hour to eliminate the problem in the service, the company said.

This is not Tesla's first electric vehicle recall. In October 2017, the company announced a voluntary recall of 11 thousand Model X. During testing of cars, they discovered violations in debugging the cable, which create the risk that during an accident the back of the left seat of the rear row may fold forward.^[92]

Tesla Model 3 production issues

At the end of January 2018, it became known that the problems encountered in the production of the battery electric vehicle Tesla at the Gigafactory plant in Nevada turned out to be more serious than expected, and could entail additional delays and quality problems for the Tesla Model 3. Several Tesla employees reported that some batteries are manufactured manually, which requires additional labor.

The company has already delayed the start of production of the Model 3, citing problems with the Gigafactory. On November 1, 2017, Tesla CEO Elon Musk assured investors that the company was taking action to fix production problems and bring the Model 3 to market.

Despite the company's desire to automate production, just a month later, in December 2017, it became known that the company still produces batteries for the Model 3 partially manually and attracts Panasonic specialists to help with assembly. Panasonic is a partner in Tesla and is engaged in the supply of battery cells.

According to sources on CNBC, Tesla is no closer to mass production of batteries of the basic model of the electric sedan.

Problems in Gigafactory's production could prevent Tesla from meeting its goals, CNBC reported. Delays will reduce employee motivation, displease buyers and play into the hands of competitors.

But despite the views of skeptics, some Tesla investors are optimistic about the current situation. Ben Kallo of RW Baird said:

"We believe Tesla will set up Model 3 production and the positive reaction from early buyers will boost demand. Overall, the market may be larger than expected. "

Production is a complicated matter. You always need to take into account tolerances and risks, meet quality criteria. It takes time, former Tesla engineers say.

Autopilot crash

On January 22, 2018, it became known that a Tesla Model S electric car crashed into a parked fire truck on autopilot.

Representatives of the Calver City, California fire brigade, whose car was injured in an incident on the morning of January 22, 2018 on the federal 405 freeway, said that the driver of the electric car was using an autopilot system that controls automatically.

The fire truck was parked in the left emergency lane. The incident left Tesla the electric car badly damaged and the fire engine is also in need of repairs.

Firefighters were in front of the vehicle, dealing with the aftermath of the previous crash. Thanks to this, a more tragic outcome was avoided. The collision was reportedly quite serious. According to the Mercury News, the electric car was moving at a speed of about 100 km/h, but it is not yet clear whether it slowed down before the collision.

Due to the force of the impact, firefighters recommended that the driver seek medical attention, but he was not injured and refused.

After the incident, Tesla said that "Autopilot should only be used while closely monitoring the traffic situation." The Model S user instruction contains numerous warnings that the use of autopilot and other semi-autonomous driving functions is possible only if the driver closely monitors traffic.

In 2016, a car equipped with an autopilot system of an American manufacturer had an accident that resulted in the death of the driver as a result of a collision with a truck. Then the National Safety Committee did not transport find that the driver trusted autopilot too much.^[93]

2017

High marriage rate

At the end of November 2017, it became known about the high level of marriage in Tesla cars coming off the assembly line. Although these flaws are eliminated before selling cars to consumers, the American company suffers considerable losses on this.

More than 90% of Model S and Model X electric vehicles are defective after assembly, former and current Tesla Motors employees told Reuters. This share was as of October 2017, but a number of sources of the news agency indicated the existence of the problem back in 2012.

It is noted that expensive cars often need refinement before leaving the plant. Some automakers manage to produce vehicles from enterprises with a small share of scrap - less than 10%. It is the quality of assembly on production conveyors that is crucial because subsequent repairs are time-consuming and costly, industry experts polled by Reuters say.

According to Tesla plant workers, the low efficiency of the assembly process causes huge losses to the company. By November 2017, Tesla has not yet recorded annual profits, and quarterly losses are measured at about $1 billion.

Research firm J.D. Power and Associates confirmed poor-quality production of Tesla vehicles. Among the most massive shortcomings, experts call faulty door locks and poor connections of body panels. Owners of electric cars also complain about "crickets" in the cabin, unfinished software and leaky joints through which  water enters the cabin and trunk.^[94]

Hacking by hackers

In June 2017, specialists from the information security company Keen Security Lab, owned by the Chinese IT giant Tencent, managed to seize control of Tesla's electric car, USA TODAY reports. Experts were able to remotely activate the Tesla Model X brake system, open the doors and trunk, as well as activate the headlights and radio receiver of the car.

In the cyber breach process, malware was injected through an electric car web browser using a series of computer exploits to bypass protection. As a result, the researchers were able to remotely control the electric car via Wi-Fi and a mobile connection.

Employees of the Keen Security Lab immediately notified Tesla of the identified vulnerabilities, and within two weeks it released an update for the electric car software and fixed the hole.

Keen Security Lab researchers showed a video presentation about the Tesla Model X hack at the Black Hat 2017 computer security conference in Las Vegas on July 26-27.

A statement issued by Tesla on the matter said the company was encouraging such research because it helps to prevent potential problems. At the same time, the American manufacturer stressed that the risk to customers is very small, and that Tesla is not aware of any of the owners of its cars who would suffer from this kind of hacking.

Keen Security Lab specialists are hacking into a Tesla electric car for the second time. Earlier in 2016, in a similar experiment, they managed to gain control of another model - Tesla Model S.

Last year, we also informed Tesla about the vulnerabilities found, and they fixed them. This year, we found new weaknesses and were able to demonstrate remote control of the car again, "said Sen Nie, a leading expert on the Keen Security Lab team specializing in cyber clamshell automotive systems.

He added that it was not easy to carry out a second hack.^[95]

2016: Model 3 announcement

Tesla introduced the Model 3 in late March 2016. It was reported that the model will be the most budget in the company's line of electric vehicles. The cost of the Model 3 in the basic configuration, subject to pre-order, as announced at the presentation, will be 35 thousand dollars^[96].

Serial production of the Model 3 - the most inexpensive electric car in Tesla's lineup - will begin in September 2017. In the first stage, the company said in a statement, it plans to produce about five thousand Model 3s per week, and during 2018 to increase production to ten thousand electric vehicles of this brand per week.

How many Model 3 electric vehicles Tesla expects to sell after their mass production begins has not yet been announced.

Notes