Judge Determines Tesla Knew About Defective Autopilot Technology
A judge in Florida has ruled that there is "reasonable evidence" suggesting that Tesla executives, including Elon Musk, knew about the defects in the company's self-driving technology but allowed the cars to be driven in an unsafe manner anyway. The ruling paves the way for a lawsuit over a fatal crash in 2019, accusing Tesla of intentional misconduct and gross negligence. The judge also found that Tesla's warnings in its manuals and "clickwrap" were inadequate. The ruling highlights potential inconsistencies between Tesla's internal knowledge and its marketing claims, potentially leading to a public trial and punitive damages.