Get All Access for $5/mo

Tesla Informs Regulators of Two More Fatal Crashes Related to Its Driving-Assistance Technology The company reported the crashes occurred between September 15 and October 15.

By Gabrielle Bienasz Edited by Jessica Thomas

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Sean Gallup I Getty Images
Tesla charing station in Germany.

Telsa has released information about two new fatal car accidents involving its driving-assistance technology, according to Bloomberg. The crashes were reported between September 15 and October 15, and both involved Tesla Model 3s.

The company, like any maker of cars that operate using a certain level of autonomous driving technology, has been required to report every crash related to that tech to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since June 2021. The news of the recent fatalities comes after a recall of more than 1,000 Teslas in Australia due to a steering wheel defect.

Despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk's promises to roll out self-driving technology by next year, there are currently no actual self-driving cars on the market, from Tesla or any other company.

Any automatic driving technology is ranked in tiers ranging from 0 to 5. At level one, for example, a car might have lane assistance to prevent someone from accidentally driving into an adjacent lane, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Tesla's technology falls into level two, which is the level at which a car manufacturer is subject to the NHTSA crash report requirement.

Tesla's Autopilot technology provides autosteering and the ability to match the speed of other cars around it. It has been around since 2015 and is now standard on all Teslas produced for North America, per the company's website.

But the tech is not without controversy. As Bloomberg noted, Tesla has reported a total of 16 fatal accidents involving its Autopilot program since the disclosure requirement was implemented in June 2021. The NHTSA is currently investigating how the tech responds to stopped first-responder vehicles after a series of accidents involving them.

Gabrielle Bienasz is a staff writer at Entrepreneur. She previously worked at Insider and Inc. Magazine. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.

Growing a Business

5 Effective Strategies to Boost Your Business's Online Presence

Boosting your online presence in 2025 is the key to success for businesses looking to grow. Working on your branding and reputation management is important to drive more sales and improve conversion.