According to Consumer Reports, Tesla’s Autopilot advanced driver assistance system placed last among 12 other major systems.
Ford Motor’s BlueCruise was among the 12 systems tested by Consumer Reports. This nonprofit organization assesses goods and services, followed by General Motors‘ Cadillac Super Cruise and Mercedes-Benz’s Driver Assistance.
According to Consumer Reports, Tesla, which ranked second in 2020 next to Super Cruise, dropped to seventh. A request for comment from the manufacturer of electric vehicles still needs to be answered.
Tesla didn’t change the basic functionality
As stated by the group, Tesla has not changed Autopilot’s basic functionality but has added new features.
After all this time, Autopilot still doesn’t allow collaborative steering and doesn’t have an effective driver monitoring system
Jake Fisher, Director of Consumer Reports Auto Testing stated on Autopilot basic functionality
Following collisions with parked emergency vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates 830,000 Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot.
The NHTSA is investigating whether Tesla vehicles sufficiently ensure that drivers pay attention. In June, the agency stated that evidence suggested that drivers in most crashes involving emergency vehicles under investigation had complied with Tesla’s conservative strategy, which aims to compel driver attention, raising concerns about its efficiency.
Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson stated earlier this month that the agency was “working really fast” on its Autopilot probe.
We’re moving as quickly as we can, but we also want to be careful and make sure we have all the information we need
Ann Carlson, NHTSA Administrator stated on the investigation of Tesla’s vehicles
Tesla’s ineffective monitoring of driver engagement, says NTSB
Following a fatal Autopilot crash in 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board criticized Tesla’s “ineffective monitoring of driver engagement” in 2020.
Tesla’s Autopilot feature allows cars to steer, accelerate, and brake within their paths without driver intervention, but the company says it requires “active driver supervision and does not make the vehicle autonomous.”
Separately, the NHTSA has opened more than a few more Tesla unique crash investigations in which advanced systems such as Autopilot were accused of being used, with 19 crash deaths reported.
