Tesla’s Autopilot was engaged when Model 3 crashed into truck, report states

It is at least the fourth fatal crash involving Autopilot

Tesla’s advanced driver assist system, Autopilot, was active when a Model 3 driven by a 50-year-old Florida man crashed into the side of a tractor-trailer truck on March 1st, the National Transportation Safety Board states in a report released on Thursday. Investigators reviewed video and preliminary data from the vehicle and found that neither the driver nor Autopilot “executed evasive maneuvers” before striking the truck.

The driver, Jeremy Beren Banner, was killed in the crash. It is at least the fourth fatal crash of a Tesla vehicle involving Autopilot.

This crash is eerily similar to another one involving a Tesla in 2016 near Gainesville, Florida. In that incident, Joshua Brown was killed when his Model S sedan collided with a semitrailer truck on a Florida highway in May 2016, making him the first known fatality in a semi-autonomous car. read more »

Tesla is updating its battery software after a car caught fire

Tesla is upgrading the battery systems on some of its cars after two recent unexplained fires.

The software update, which will be dispatched wirelessly to all Model S and Model X cars around the world, aims to better protect the batteries and improve their overall longevity.

The change comes after a Tesla vehicle caught fire in Hong Kong on Sunday. That was the second time a Tesla was found burning in recent weeks. read more »

Audi Q5 recalled over brake failure risk

Some 2018-2019 Audi Q5 crossover SUVs will be recalled for potential brake failure according to government filings made public Tuesday by the NHTSA.

The Q5 crossover's brake master cylinder may have been cast too short, which could lead to hydraulic brake failure. The electronic parking brake and emergency brake are not affected, however, and will still function as normal. Total, 12,645 Q5 and performance-oriented SQ5 models are included in the recall. read more »