Tesla’s ‘Actually Smart Summon’ Under Investigation: Safety Concerns Rise

• Investigating the “Actually Smart Summon” features of Tesla after information from accident site-linked parked cars and obstacles.
• The investigation involves security and might lead to a recall, especially when the self-driving technology of Tesla is facing a lot of scrutiny.

The American public safety regulators were involved in an iffy investigation against the weird ‘Actually Smart Summon’ function of Tesla after a series of accidents were attributed to this technology. The feature allows Tesla owners to summon their parked cars using a smartphone app without needing to be inside the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA has reported that the use of “Actually Smart Summon” mode in Tesla vehicles is problematic in obstacle detection, such as posts and parked cars. Approximately 2.6 million Teslas manufactured since 2016 include this feature: Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y.

There is no response from Tesla regarding the investigation. On the other hand, CEO Elon Musk has always defended Tesla’s advances in self-driving technology, as he believes that it would be safer than conventional driving and will be the future of transportation.

According to NHTSA, there have been at least four accidents with its “Actually Smart Summon” feature. This feature, launched in September, allows drivers to use their phones to move their cars. The agency has also filed more than a dozen investigations regarding incidents related to the company’s predecessor “Smart Summon.”

The good news is that no injuries have occurred in any of the incidents. Still, the inquiry might add fuel to the fire and ignite new investigations against the automated driving technologies of Tesla, which is already being scrutinized for several other NHTSA investigations, some including fatal incidents.

This request initiates the very first stage of a process which may lead to a recall. The NHTSA is investigating different aspects of the “Actually Smart Summon” feature, including the maximum velocity at which the cars can travel and some safeguards against their use on public roads.

The user’s guide for Tesla cars states: “Accordingly, Smart Summon must only be used in very private and trusted places such as driveways. In addition, the driver must keep a clear line of sight to the vehicle.” It should be noted in the manual that the feature is disabled on public roads.

This investigation is proclaimed only weeks before Donald Trump, a close ally of Elon Musk, takes office as President. Trump’s election promises would cut down-regulation and government spending, both of which are likely to influence future oversight of such technologies.

The investigation is a really big step toward rectifying safety issues associated with Tesla’s creative yet debatable self-driving features.