US judge upholds $243 million verdict against Tesla over fatal Autopilot crash
A federal judge has rejected Tesla’s request to pay $243 million to victims’ families after a 2019 fatal crash involving a Model S equipped with Autopilot. The ruling upholds the verdict that Autopilot contributed to the crash and imposes a substantial damages award.
The decision maintains scrutiny over Tesla’s driver-assistance feature and its marketing claims, as jurors previously found that Autopilot played a role in the fatal incident. Tesla had sought to reduce or eliminate the damages or to pay over time, but the court denied those motions.
The case underscores ongoing legal battles over the safety and liability of driver-assistance technologies and could influence future settlements and regulatory attention surrounding Autopilot.