A Florida jury has determined that Tesla should be partly liable for a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash, ordering the company to pay $42.5 million in damages to the victims and their families.
The verdict came after a seven-week trial in Miami, where plaintiffs claimed Tesla’s Autopilot technology was flawed and deceptively marketed. The jury found Tesla responsible for 33% of the fatal crash, which killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides and injured her boyfriend Dillon Angulo.
Tesla plans to appeal the decision, citing “substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial.” However, the company’s CEO Elon Musk is facing criticism over his claims that Autopilot is safe enough for robotaxis on public roads. The verdict could set a precedent for future lawsuits against Tesla regarding its Autopilot system.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating possible safety defects in Tesla’s Autopilot systems since 2021, and the agency has warned the company about misrepresenting its cars as capable of functioning as robotaxis. A site that tracks Tesla-involved collisions reports at least 58 deaths resulting from incidents where Tesla drivers had Autopilot engaged just before impact.
The verdict is a blow to Musk’s efforts to persuade investors that his company can pivot into a leader in autonomous vehicles. Tesla shares have dipped 1.8% on Friday and are now down 25% for the year, making it the biggest drop among tech’s megacap companies.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/tesla-must-pay-329-million-in-damages-in-fatal-autopilot-case.html