Tesla is recalling over two million cars following a discovery by US regulators of a partial defect in its driver assistance system, Autopilot. This decision comes after a two-year investigation into

incidents involving crashes when Autopilot was active.

The recall encompasses nearly every Tesla sold in the US since the launch of the Autopilot feature in 2015. Tesla plans to address the issue through a software update delivered remotely, referred to as a recall despite being an over-the-air update that doesn't necessitate a visit to a dealership.

Autopilot, designed to aid with steering, acceleration, and braking, still requires driver intervention despite its name.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlighted an issue with Autopilot's driver monitoring system, responsible for identifying whether the driver remains attentive, such as by confirming hand placement on the wheel.

In an extensive two-year review encompassing 956 incidents involving alleged Autopilot use, the NHTSA found the controls might not sufficiently prevent misuse, leading to this recall.

The NHTSA emphasized the potential of automated tech to enhance safety, emphasizing responsible deployment. It intends to monitor the updated software's performance closely.

This development surfaces just a week after a former Tesla employee expressed safety concerns, asserting the technology's readiness both in hardware and software.

This marks Tesla's second recall this year. The company defended Autopilot's safety, citing data showing improved safety metrics when the system is active, emphasizing that increased automation support correlates with enhanced safety for drivers and other road users. Photo by Leo Nguyen, Wikimedia commons.