The 3 key elements
- The National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) issued a special order requiring Tesla to provide extensive data about its Autopilot and driver monitoring systems, focusing particularly on a configuration known as “Elon mode.” This mode eliminates warnings that prompt drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
- Tesla met NHTSA’s deadline of August 25 to provide the requested data, but the details have been treated as confidential by the agency. This comes amidst ongoing investigations into Tesla’s Autopilot system and potential safety concerns related to disabling standard alerts.
- Critics argue that Tesla’s “Elon mode” undermines safety precautions and should not be included in production software. During a recent livestream, Elon Musk himself appeared to violate Tesla’s terms of use for Autopilot by not keeping his hands on the wheel, which has added to the scrutiny.