German KBA probes Tesla phantom braking safety risks
Germany's vehicle authority KBA is investigating phantom braking incidents in Tesla vehicles, where cars unexpectedly brake without driver input. A German court recently ruled Tesla's Autopilot system defective and unsuitable for ordinary use due to such braking failures.
What happened
The German federal motor transport authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt or KBA) is investigating reports of unexpected and unprompted braking events in Tesla vehicles, known as 'phantom braking.' According to a KBA spokesperson quoted by Handelsblatt, 'The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt is currently investigating the matter.' Tests on Tesla braking assistance and other driver assistance systems are underway but not yet complete.
Multiple Tesla drivers have reported sudden, abrupt braking without driver input. A 2023 Handelsblatt analysis of internal Tesla documents showed thousands of complaints from Tesla drivers about unexplained braking incidents, some with serious consequences. In the United States, a Tesla Model S reportedly braked suddenly in a tunnel, causing a multi-vehicle collision that injured several people.
Reported impact
Unexpected braking on roadways poses a serious safety hazard, particularly at high speeds or in traffic. A German court determined in January that the Autopilot system in a Tesla Model 3 from 2022 was 'unsuitable for ordinary use,' based on expert testimony where a test drive was halted for safety reasons after sudden braking occurred.
Index analysis
Tesla relies exclusively on camera-based vision and artificial intelligence for its driver assistance systems, unlike most other automakers who use additional sensors such as radar or lidar that perform more reliably in poor visibility conditions. CEO Elon Musk has rejected these alternative sensor technologies.
Governance controls
The KBA stated that if necessary, it will 'take appropriate measures at the appropriate time,' which could include ordering a recall if the investigation confirms a serious safety risk. The KBA confirmed that it is aware of the January court ruling and considers such judicial findings to be 'of interest,' though it characterizes its own investigation as independent from civil proceedings.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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