Tesla(US:TSLA) 智通财经网·2025-08-01 23:07Core Viewpoint - A jury in Miami, Florida, ruled that Tesla is partially responsible for a fatal 2019 autonomous driving accident, ordering the company to pay a total of $329 million in damages, including $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages [1][2]. Group 1: Accident Details - The accident involved a Tesla Model S equipped with the Enhanced Autopilot system, driven by George McGee, who lost control while attempting to retrieve a dropped phone, resulting in a collision that killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides and severely injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo [1]. - The incident occurred in Key Largo, Florida, where the vehicle accelerated through an intersection at over 60 miles per hour before crashing into a parked car [1]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings and Implications - The plaintiff's attorney criticized Tesla for knowingly allowing the Autopilot system to be used on non-highway roads, despite its design limitations, and highlighted Elon Musk's misleading claims about the system's safety [2]. - Following the verdict, Tesla announced plans to appeal, arguing that the ruling could hinder advancements in automotive safety and jeopardize the development of life-saving technologies [2]. - This ruling may set a significant precedent for ongoing lawsuits against Tesla related to its autonomous driving systems, with approximately ten similar cases currently in progress in the U.S. [2]. Group 3: Regulatory Context - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating potential safety defects in Tesla's Autopilot system since 2021, leading to multiple over-the-air software updates by Tesla [3]. - NHTSA has also warned Tesla about potentially misleading social media promotions that could lead users to believe in full autonomous driving capabilities, while the user manual specifies that drivers must maintain control of the vehicle [3]. - Data from TeslaDeaths.com indicates that at least 58 fatal accidents have occurred shortly after drivers activated the Autopilot system [3].