Regulators are interested in knowing why Autopilot appears to be working for emergency vehicles.
Data Dump
Federal authorities are intensifying their investigation into possible crashes allegedly caused by Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot driving aid software.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sent Tesla an 11-page request for data. It asked for information about how Autopilot detects emergency vehicles, flares, flashing lights and reflective vests. The investigation, which covers 765,000 Tesla Model S, 3, X, and Ys from between 2014 and 2021, could be a turning point in the automakers occasionally-combative relationship with the government in which either Tesla cooperates or risks paying huge fines and being found liable for multiple crashes.
Piling up
Based on 11 accidents that occurred since 2018, the NHTSA officially launched an investigation into Autopilot's tendency to hit emergency vehicles pulled over at the side of the road. The Associated Press reports that a Tesla with Autopilot collided into a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle on Saturday. One person was killed and another 17 were injured.
After years of grumbling regulators about Autopilot and Tesla's Full Self-Driving Software, along with several other instances where the NHTSA was either considering or launching probes into Tesla's various flaws, this is a welcome development.
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Ticking the Clock
Tesla has until October 22nd to reply to the NHTSA's letter and provide all the requested data.
CEO Elon Musk can be a snob to government agencies if it fails to do so. The company could face a fine of over $114 million.
READ MORE: US questions Tesla about Autopilot's response to emergency vehicles [AP]
The NHTSA investigates Tesla Autopilot crash into emergency vehicles
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