Autopilot Not Used In April Tesla Crash, Says US Report

Local police have said they believed the crash occurred with no one in the driver's seat, raising questions about Tesla's driver assistance systems.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said testing showed Autopilot could not have been functioning in an April 17 Tesla Model S fatal crash near Houston, Texas because a key feature could not have been in use, according to a preliminary report released Monday. Local police have said they believed the crash occurred with no one in the driver's seat, raising questions about Tesla's driver assistance systems. The NTSB said the vehicle was equipped with "Autopilot" - Tesla's advanced driver assistance system - and the system requires both Traffic Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer systems to be engaged. Tesla and police in Texas did not respond to a request for comment.