There Auto Be A Law Tesla on trial, Rollerskates and Robo Taxis
Jul 24, 2025
The podcast dives into troubling allegations against Tesla over misleading self-driving ads and ongoing legal battles in California. Safety concerns unfold as expert testimonies reveal defects in Tesla's autopilot. Waymo faces scrutiny, with celebrity endorsements failing to mask critical safety data issues. The conversation highlights the importance of vehicle recalls, alcohol detection devices, and the industry's need for rigorous testing, paralleling unsettling trends in autonomous vehicle safety with past NASA missteps.
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Misleading Autopilot Marketing Risks Lives
- Tesla marketed Level 2 features with names implying full self-driving and misled consumers about required human oversight.
- California regulators moved to suspend Tesla sales for deceptive marketing to reduce preventable deaths.
Expert Testimony On Autopilot Misuse
- Expert Missy Cummings testified that Tesla's Autopilot is defective for allowing use outside its design domain.
- The trial showed Teslas were often used on rural roads and settings they were not designed to handle.
Robo-Taxi Hype Masks Major Flaws
- Tesla's robotaxi rollout still shows basic perception failures like nearly running a train at a crossing.
- Company PR frames these as minor 'polish' issues despite clear safety hazards.