Tesla found partly to blame in trial over deadly Autopilot crash

Core Points - A Florida federal jury found Tesla partly responsible for a 2019 crash that resulted in a fatality and serious injuries, awarding $329 million in damages to the victims' family [1][2] - The case highlights concerns regarding Tesla's Autopilot feature, which the plaintiffs argued was engaged during the incident and had design flaws [2][3] - The lawsuit claimed that Tesla's vehicles were "defective and unsafe" and that the company misrepresented the capabilities of Autopilot, despite being aware of its deficiencies [3][4] Summary by Sections Incident Details - The crash involved a Tesla Model S that, while on Autopilot, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle at over 60 miles per hour [4] - The driver of the Tesla, George McGee, testified that he was distracted by his cellphone and believed Autopilot would assist him, but felt it failed to warn him or apply brakes [9][10] Legal Proceedings - The trial lasted three weeks and included testimonies from the victims' family and the Tesla driver [2] - Tesla's attorneys argued that the driver was solely responsible for the crash, emphasizing that it was a case of driver distraction rather than a defect in the vehicle [11] Autopilot Feature - Tesla's Autopilot is marketed as a driver-assistance feature that requires full driver attention and readiness to take control at any moment [12]