Tesla was found partially liable for a wrongful death involving an Autopilot crash last week. The automaker withheld critical evidence that could have explained how its Autopilot system performed in the incident.
According to trial transcripts, Tesla misled authorities about the availability of data from the “collision snapshot” – video, CAN-bus streams, and other data collected by the vehicle’s sensors within minutes of the crash. The company claimed the data did not exist or was corrupted, despite having access to it on its servers.
Tesla withheld this data for years, even after police and plaintiffs repeatedly asked for it. The company’s attempts to conceal the evidence were exposed when a forensic engineer recovered the data from the vehicle’s computer.
The jury ultimately found that Autopilot was active during the crash, but failed to prevent it due to Tesla’s design choices. The company had been warned by regulators to implement better safety measures, including geo-fencing and driver monitoring, to prevent such incidents.
Tesla fans who have dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims as a payout may want to consider the human impact of this tragedy. If their daughter died in a car crash, they would likely want to understand what happened and how to prevent similar tragedies.
The jury’s verdict, which assigns 33% of the blame for the crash to Tesla, is not unexpected. The company has repeatedly claimed its Autopilot system is safer than human drivers, but the evidence suggests otherwise. This case highlights the need for regulators to take action against companies that prioritize profits over safety.
Regulators in countries where Autopilot was sold should be investigating criminal charges and billions of dollars in fines for Tesla’s actions. The company’s attempts to destroy evidence and mislead authorities are a serious breach of trust and ethics.
Source: https://electrek.co/2025/08/04/tesla-withheld-data-lied-misdirected-police-plaintiffs-avoid-blame-autopilot-crash