A Model 3 sedan is connected to a charger at a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo., in 2021. A jury found Tesla not guilty Tuesday over the role of its Autopilot technology in a 2019 crash in Riverside County, Calif. Tuesday over the role of its Autopilot technology in a 2019 crash in Riverside County, Calif., a significant moment for the company that is facing a string of lawsuits involving incidents where its driver-assistance software was allegedly engaged.
This case is one of at least 10 active lawsuits involving Tesla’s Autopilot, several of which are expected to go to court over the next year. Together, the cases could offer a precedent of whether the software should bear some of the blame when something goes wrong in a vehicle guided by Autopilot — or whether the driver is solely to blame.