Jury Gives Verdict on Tesla Autopilot Trial That Resulted in Fatal Crash

A U.S. jury found that Autopilot was not to blame in a 2019 accident

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In a landmark decision, Tesla secured a win in a pivotal U.S. trial over allegations that its Autopilot driver-assistant feature was linked to a fatal accident. This victory comes as the electric vehicle manufacturer faces several similar lawsuits and federal investigations.

The Riverside Crash Details

At the heart of the trial was a tragic 2019 incident. Micah Lee's Tesla Model 3 veered off a highway near Los Angeles, collided with a palm tree, and erupted into flames, all in mere moments. The crash resulted in the death of Lee and severe injuries to two passengers, including an 8-year-old boy. The lawsuit sought a staggering $400 million, including punitive damages.

Tesla, however, countered with the argument that the driver had consumed alcohol prior to the crash and that it was ambiguous if Autopilot was even in use at the time of the incident.

The Verdict: Human Responsibility

After four days of deliberation, the 12-member jury sided with Tesla, ruling that there wasn't a manufacturing defect in the vehicle, with a vote of 9-3. This ruling echoes a wider sentiment in the industry, suggesting that despite technological advancements, ultimate responsibility still rests with human drivers.

What set the Riverside case apart from other Autopilot-related lawsuits was its emphasis on potential steering issues. While several other cases have criticized the design of Autopilot for potentially promoting misuse, this particular trial's jury was tasked with determining if a manufacturing defect had any bearing on the vehicle's steering capabilities.

Precedent: The Los Angeles Trial

Earlier in the year, Tesla encountered and overcame a similar challenge in Los Angeles regarding a Model S accident. The company firmly maintained its position, stressing that despite using terms like "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving," it consistently communicates to users that the technology demands human intervention. It was concluded in that case that the incident was a result of driver distraction.

Industry Insights and Future Implications

The outcome of the Riverside trial further solidifies Tesla's position that its vehicles, when operated as instructed, make roads safer. Nevertheless, regulatory bodies continue their scrutiny. With ongoing investigations and inquiries into the broader realm of autonomous driving technology, the spotlight remains firmly on Tesla.

Tesla's recent legal win underscores the challenges automakers face in the rapidly evolving landscape of autonomous driving. As technological breakthroughs continue transforming our transport systems, trials like these serve as precedents, shaping the transportation future in real time.

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Tesla Improves Wrap Services: Cuts Prices Drastically, Adds New Colors and Expands Availability

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After canceling the in-house wrap program for the Cybertruck last month, Tesla has reintroduced the program with a lot of changes. Let’s take a look at the original program, then we’ll dive into what’s changed.

Tesla began the wrap program for the Model 3 and Model Y in the fall of 2023. With the arrival of the Cybertruck, Tesla launched Matte Black and Satin White options for the Cybertruck and later added 11 more colors.

These are high-quality PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps, which protect the paint in addition to changing the color of the vehicle. PPF is thicker, lasts longer, and is far superior to traditional vinyl wraps, but unfortunately, the service is only available if your vehicle is brand new.

When the program shuttered last month, many people were disappointed about the closing as it allowed owners to bundle the cost of the wrap service into the vehicle’s financing.

New Wrap Prices

First things first - the price of the wraps has dropped considerably, and Tesla does not appear to be using a different material - it is still PPF, not vinyl. These new prices are a lot more comparable to third-party offerings that normally use vinyl wraps.

Tesla initially offered 11 wrap colors, but that selection has now been reduced to eight per vehicle. Interestingly, the color options vary by model—Model 3 and Model Y owners have their own distinct palette. The Cybertruck also boasts its own unique set of colors, though unfortunately, the popular Satin White option is absent from its catalog.

Of course, the ever-popular Matte Black is still available, along with a fairly unique set of other vivid colors.

New Locations

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When the wrap program launched, it was limited to just three locations in California and one location in Texas. That meant that unless you were taking delivery at West Covina, Oceanside, Costa Mesa, or Santa Clara, you’d be unable to get a first-party wrap done by Tesla.

Now, under the new program, Tesla is offering wraps out of all the original locations and adding Seattle, Washington. What initially seemed like Tesla scaling back its wrap service has turned out to be to them making it more affordable and efficient.

New Purchases Only

For now, the wrap offers are still constrained to new vehicle purchases—you won’t be able to have Tesla wrap a vehicle that’s already been delivered. Paint damage and scuffs can impact the installation of PPF and require additional time to smooth out the vehicle surface.

Either way, with cheaper wrap options, Tesla is now directly competing against third-party wrap shops when it comes to wrapping vehicles in PPF. While it’s still a bit more expensive than you’d find elsewhere, it also comes with a level of care and precision from technicians intimately familiar with your vehicle.

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Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

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For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

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