Tesla faces pressure to provide answers on Driver Alert System

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has requested additional information from Tesla as part of its ongoing investigation into the company's Autopilot system.

The probe focuses on 830,000 Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot, the automaker's advanced driver assistance system.

In a letter sent to Tesla on July 3, NHTSA requested updated responses to requests made in August 2022. Specifically, the agency requested more information about Tesla's in-car camera and driver monitoring system, which is designed to detect driver inattention and issue alerts to keep their attention on the road while Autopilot is operating. NHTSA also requested information on how Tesla compiles its quarterly safety reports.

Tesla has until July 19 to provide the requested information with current data. The automaker has not yet commented on the matter.

Since 2016, the NHTSA has initiated 41 special crash investigations involving Tesla vehicles suspected of using Autopilot. Within those cases, 19 fatalities were reported. Autopilot offers automated driving features such as steering, acceleration, and braking within a lane on highways, while Enhanced Autopilot can assist in lane changes.

However, neither Autopilot nor Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" beta software (FSD) are fully self-driving, and drivers are advised to remain vigilant and ready to take control of the vehicle if needed.