Software program repair rolls out after regulators recall 2 million vehicles

Tesla is recalling round 2 million of its automobiles within the U.S. to repair Autopilot options that auto security regulators discovered to be complicated to drivers, or too straightforward for them to misuse and abuse.

In filings posted to the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration web site on Wednesday, the company discovered that, in some circumstances the place a function referred to as Autosteer is in use, “there may be an increased risk of a collision.” Whereas Tesla didn’t concur with the company’s evaluation, in line with the filings, the electrical automobile maker agreed to difficulty a voluntary recall and roll out an “over-the-air software remedy” to repair the issue.

Autosteer is a element of Tesla’s “Basic Autopilot” bundle that’s supposed to be used on “controlled-access highways” and might present “steering, braking and acceleration support” for drivers in sure situations, the filings mentioned. Drivers are supposed to maintain their arms on the steering wheel and stay attentive whereas utilizing Autosteer in order that they will intervene if vital.

The function makes use of a number of controls to find out that drivers are nonetheless engaged when utilizing Autosteer, however NHTSA discovered that “the prominence and scope of the feature’s controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse,” in line with the report.

The recall will have an effect on 2,031,220 of Tesla’s Mannequin S, Mannequin X, Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y automobiles constructed since 2012, the filings mentioned. The software program treatment started rolling out on Tuesday, and NHTSA mentioned the remaining impacted automobiles would obtain the replace “at a later date.” The repair is free to all prospects.

NHTSA opened an investigation into 11 incidents involving Tesla vehicles that have been partaking Autosteer in 2021, which in the end led to the recall. Tesla cooperated with the investigation and had “several meetings” with NHTSA representatives, the company mentioned.

Shares of Tesla have been down lower than 1% Wednesday.

For an Autopilot repair and future software program replace to Autosteer, Tesla plans to roll out “additional controls and alerts,” to “further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged” in line with a Half 573 recall report it filed with the company.

These controls will embrace extra distinguished visible alerts on Tesla’s touchscreens, “simplifying engagement and disengagement of Autosteer.” The replace can even add “additional checks” for drivers utilizing Autosteer, together with whereas “outside controlled access highways and when approaching traffic controls.” Tesla’s submitting with NHTSA additionally says drivers can finally get locked out of utilizing Autosteer if they don’t use it responsibly.

Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for additional data.

CNBC’s Lora Kolodny contributed to this report.