Elon Musk Podcast Tesla Hit With $243M Verdict Over Autopilot Crash
Sep 2, 2025
A jury hit Tesla with a staggering $243 million judgment over a tragic 2018 Autopilot crash that took the lives of two teens. The deliberations revealed that Tesla had knowledge of a defect yet failed to address it. The discussion dives into the trial's key moments and the reasoning behind the hefty damages awarded. The ruling raises crucial concerns about the balance between promoting advanced autonomous driving features and ensuring driver safety, signaling possible repercussions for Tesla’s future legal challenges.
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Jury Finds Tesla Liable For Autopilot Crash
- A Florida jury found Tesla liable for a 2018 crash tied to Autopilot and awarded $243 million.
- The verdict hinged on jurors concluding Tesla knew about steering defects and failed to fix them.
Marketing Versus Realistic Use Clash
- Tesla's marketing of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving conflicts with required driver vigilance.
- That tension weakens Tesla's legal position as courts assess realistic intended use.
Nine-Figure Damages Stem From Known Bug
- The award included $63 million compensatory and $180 million punitive damages.
- Jurors focused on an internal software bug Tesla allegedly knew about but did not patch.