Tesla Closes Autopilot Lawsuit Chapter That Killed Apple Tech Engineer

Apr 12, 2024 11:41 PM EDT

TESLA MODEL X IN BLACK AND WHITE — (Photo : PEXELS/KEVIN B)

A 2018 legal dispute surrounding the sad event where a Model X slammed into a barrier has been resolved by Tesla. The car was in automatic pilot mode. This resulted in the loss of a life. This settlement follows a lawsuit filed against Tesla. Wei Huang, an Apple engineer lost his life in the March 2018 crash. The agreement marks the conclusion of the lawsuit that claimed Tesla's Autopilot features bore responsibility for the fatal accident.

Tesla's Battle: Autopilot Issue

Although Tesla won over similar cases, the Autopilot trial pushed through in March because of new evidence that would bolster the plaintiffs' allegations. A number of crashes involved Tesla's Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) or Autopilot and the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Package have been reported in the past.

Despite Tesla's victories in prior legal battles concerning its Autopilot function, some are calling for the business to take on more responsibility. Critics argue that Tesla should address concerns about fostering an overinflated sense of confidence in its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

They suggest implementing measures to curb misuse, emphasizing the importance of ensuring drivers remain attentive while the system is engaged. According to FastCompany's report the protracted legal dispute over Tesla's driver-assistance software has apparently ended, at least temporarily .

Wei "Walter" Huang, an Apple engineer, died tragically in March 2018; the case claimed that Tesla's autopilot features were to blame. This week, Tesla and the plaintiffs agreed a settlement.

According to filings submitted to the California court, Tesla has also asked that the specifics of the settlement be kept secret. The Huang family will be compensated for their loss, but the details of the case are still unknown, leaving open doubts about what actually happened.

Huang's tragic demise prompted debate over its cause: the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), after thorough examination, concluded that both Autopilot engagement and driver distraction contributed to the crash.

Tesla countered, asserting that Huang's distraction, possibly due to playing a game, was the primary cause of the accident. However, Huang's family held a different perspective, filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla. Despite requests for comment, Tesla has not yet responded.

According to the report, the recent case and its unexpected resolution signal a shift in perspective regarding the implementation of so-called "banana launches" in safety systems for self-driving vehicles. Matthias Schmidt, an independent automotive analyst based in Berlin, highlights that this development establishes a precedent.

He emphasizes that in the realm of safety systems, where malfunctions can have fatal consequences, the practice of releasing products that "ripen" or improve with customer use should be reconsidered.

What Reports Says

As per PCMag, Wei "Walter" Huang, aged 38, served as an Apple engineer and was a father of two. According to The Washington Post, his family will get an undisclosed amount as part of the deal. The Verge reports that a second hearing is set for April 11 to discuss the agreement's ultimate approval by the judge.

This development arises two years after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, tweeted about establishing a robust litigation department at Tesla, vowing not to settle unjust cases even if they are likely to lose. Tesla's blog post, released shortly after the incident, affirmed that Huang's vehicle was utilizing Autopilot.

Autopilot stands as the most basic among Tesla's trio of autonomous driving packages, offering smart cruise control and auto lane-keeping. Tesla highlighted that Huang had received multiple visual alerts and an audible one earlier during the journey, emphasizing that Autopilot does not prevent all accidents.

During his commute, Huang had a tendency to engage in gaming on his phone. Investigators discovered that a game was the primary application open on his phone at the time of the crash. However, they couldn't ascertain if he was actively playing it during the incident.