Toronto, Ontario — Tesla must pay US$242 million after a Florida jury found the company partially liable for a 2019 crash using its Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system.
The incident occurred when a man operating Tesla Model S collided with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe while travelling at about 100 km/hour. The accident occured at Key Largo, Florida, and claimed the life of Naibel Benavides Leon. Her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, also sustained serious injuries.
The plaintiffs’ lawyers argued that Tesla’s Autopilot system was defective in its design. They also claimed the OEM failed to restrict its use to controlled-access highways, despite knowing its limitations. The jury awarded $129 million in compensatory damages, with Tesla held responsible for 33 percent, or about $42.6 million, plus another $200 million in punitive damages.
It is the first lawsuit related to a wrongful death of a third party attributed to the Autopilot system.
The OEM plans to appeal the verdict. In a statement, the company says the decision could hinder the development and implementation of life-saving technology.
