Tesla(US:TSLA) Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-02-21 03:25Core Viewpoint - A federal judge has officially rejected Tesla's request to overturn a jury verdict requiring the company to pay $243 million in damages related to a fatal accident involving its Autopilot system, marking a significant legal setback for the company [1][5]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The Miami federal court ruled that the evidence presented during the trial "fully supported" the jury's decision, and Tesla did not provide sufficient new arguments to overturn the verdict [1][5]. - The jury found Tesla 33% at fault for the accident, which resulted in a $43 million compensatory award and $200 million in punitive damages, marking Tesla's first loss in a wrongful death case involving Autopilot [5][7]. - Tesla had previously rejected a $60 million settlement offer before the trial, but now faces a much larger payout [5][7]. Group 2: Ongoing Legal Challenges - Following the August 2025 verdict, Tesla is facing a wave of lawsuits related to Autopilot incidents, with at least four additional cases settled to avoid further uncertainty [7]. - New lawsuits continue to emerge, including a January 2026 case involving a Model X accident that resulted in the deaths of a family of four [7]. - Tesla is also under increasing regulatory scrutiny, with a California judge ruling in December 2025 that the use of the term "Autopilot" in marketing is misleading and violates state law [7][8]. Group 3: Corporate Response - Tesla has indicated plans to appeal the ruling and is attempting to limit punitive damages to three times the compensatory amount, although this would still result in a nine-figure payout [7]. - To avoid a 30-day sales ban in California, Tesla agreed to completely abandon the "Autopilot" name [8].