In December 2021, a tragic accident in Paris’s 13th arrondissement left one cyclist dead and 21 pedestrians injured after a Tesla, driven by a taxi driver, went out of control. The driver claimed the car accelerated on its own and the brakes failed, attributing the crash to a technical malfunction. However, the National Gendarmerie’s forensic investigation found no mechanical anomalies in the vehicle.
The driver, who was using the car’s autopilot mode (not fully autonomous), was charged with involuntary manslaughter and unintentional injuries. He filed a lawsuit against Tesla, insisting the car malfunctioned. Yet, the investigation revealed no evidence supporting his claims.
Experts noted inconsistencies in his statements, particularly regarding brake and accelerator usage, which contradicted the vehicle’s data logs.
The defense has called for a counter-expertise, criticizing the initial report as “superficial.” Meanwhile, the victims’ lawyer emphasized that technical failures are rare, with human error being the primary cause in nearly all such cases. This tragic incident highlights the ongoing debate over the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technologies.
