Tesla Rethinks Auto Pilot Feature, Recalls Nearly All Of It's Vehicles

Tesla is taking nearly all its vehicles off US roads following issues with its Autopilot system!

The multinational automotive company has been pushing its self-driving feature for years, hoping to give its customers the satisfaction of having their cars drive for them. Unfortunately, after an investigation unveiled several crashes involving the Autopilot system, their engineers needed to develop better software.

Tesla recalled nearly all 2 million of its cars on US roads after pushing its driver-assist features, including Autopilot and "Full Self Driving." The company insisted these systems would make driving safer than cars wholly controlled by humans; however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration begged to differ.

The NHTSA has been studying reports of accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot and Autosteer functions for more than two years, uncovering roughly 1,000 crashes in which these features were used. The US safety regulators believe this self-driving software gives drivers a false sense of security.

Because drivers feel safe using the Autopilot and Autosteer functions, the NHTSA notes these features can be misused when Tesla's technology cannot safely navigate the road without the driver's input. The safety organization implored the automotive company to recall its vehicles for a crucial update to avoid this dangerous scenario.

According to a statement from the NHTSA, Tesla's over-the-air software update will give the brand's cars a better monitoring system. When the Autopilot's "Autosteer" function is engaged, drivers will receive more warnings to pay attention to the road. These notifications, per CNN Business, will ensure drivers keep their hands on the wheel and watch the road.

Tesla isn't risking the safety of its drivers with the new software update promising to frequently check on the driver's attention level while the Autosteer feature is on. If the driver repeatedly fails to adhere to the prompts advising them to focus on the road, the system may disengage the Autopilot feature.

The function can also be automatically turned off by the car's system when the vehicle approaches traffic controls or when driving on a highway where the driver's input is necessary. In their letter to Tesla, the NHTSA stressed that the automotive giants had agreed to the software update and began recalling their vehicles on Tuesday, December 12.

As stated, an NHTSA investigation discovered several accidents involving the Autopilot and Full Self Driving features. These functions were engaged in situations that required the driver's attention, an issue the safety regulators highlighted in their letter to Tesla. In the organization's words:

"In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse [of the feature.]"

The NHTSA noted that when drivers are not fully engaged and ready to take control of the car, "there may be an increased risk of a crash." This problem will hopefully be resolved after Tesla's recall and software update.

A year before Tesla was forced to recall its vehicles, its CEO Elon Musk threatened to fire his employees if they did not return to the office. The social distancing restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic saw many office workers continuing their jobs at home.

However, the billionaire businessman only believed his Tesla employees were doing their best if they did it from the office. Musk allegedly demanded his workforce return to the office for at least forty hours a week, or they would be out of a job, according to leaked emails posted online.

The SpaceX founder wrote in the messages, "Anyone who wishes to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean *minimum*) of 40 hours per week or depart Tesla. This is less than we ask of factory workers."

Musk stressed that employees must work at the "main Tesla office, not a remote branch office unrelated to the job duties." In one email, the 52-year-old noted he would personally review any requests for exemptions from this policy and approve them on a case-by-case basis.

However, he wished to see people back in the office immediately. "If you don't show up, we will assume you have resigned," he clarified in the email. Additionally, he seemingly defended his decision to work at the office by stating:

"Tesla has and will create and actually manufacture the most exciting and meaningful products of any company on Earth. This will not happen by phoning it in."