“Elon Musk is in trouble again!”
This sentence is definitely the “thunder” that has caused the most waves in the automotive industry recently.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a group of usually rigorous and rigid “traffic police”, suddenly issued an “ultimatum” to 2.88 million Tesla vehicles on October 9th – strict investigation!
You read that right, 2.88 million vehicles, which is almost Tesla’s entire stock in the U.S. market.
The source of this big incident is those shocking accident reports.
There were more than 50 violations, 6 of which were “rampages” directly in front of red lights, resulting in 23 injuries.
What’s even more chilling is that many car owners have reported that their complaints have gone unanswered. Tesla seems to be indifferent to these “incidents” and even denies that there are problems with the system.
Now, a large-scale “recall storm” seems to be brewing. This is undoubtedly a blow to Musk, who regards Tesla as a “cash cow”. Can he still retain his throne as “the richest man on earth”?
What’s the thrill behind an “unusual” investigation?
To be honest, this NHTSA action is by no means “routine.”
Each of the 58 reports in their hands has been rigorously scrutinized.
Just imagine, there were 6 red light violations, vehicles rushed out like out-of-control beasts, and collided with innocent vehicles. How dangerous is this scene?
What’s more, while driving at high speed, the FSD system suddenly “twitched” and ordered the vehicle to change lanes, almost having a “close contact” with a huge truck. This kind of life-and-death experience is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine!
I once heard a Tesla owner living in California confide, and his experience was even more embarrassing: “I started feeling that something was wrong with FSD last year.
The traffic light at the entrance of the community was obviously dazzling red, but it insisted on rushing forward. If I hadn’t reacted quickly and stepped on the brakes in time, the consequences would have been disastrous.
I called Tesla’s customer service more than a dozen times, and I always got the message, ‘The system is being optimized, please be patient.’
The result?
After waiting for more than half a year, the problem has not only not been solved, but has become more frequent. “
This kind of “system optimization” promise seems so pale in the face of security.
This is not the first time Tesla has been pushed to the forefront because of its FSD system.
In October last year, NHTSA investigated 2.4 million Tesla vehicles because four vehicles failed to effectively identify the vehicle ahead in heavy fog and heavy rain with extremely poor visibility, which directly led to collisions.
At that time, the turmoil in the American political arena seemed to have left the matter unresolved. Many car owners mistakenly thought that the problem had been solved. Who would have thought that the situation this year would be even more serious.
The biggest difference between this incident and the past is the intervention of U.S. senators.
Several lawmakers signed a letter to NHTSA expressing constituents’ concerns about the safety of the FSD system. They have received too many “near-miss” complaints and require a thorough investigation.
If NHTSA ultimately determines that these vehicles present an “unreasonable hazard,” a recall of 2.88 million vehicles will be inevitable.
For Tesla, this is by no means a “little fight.” The repairs and compensation after the recall are conservatively estimated to cost the company tens of billions of dollars.
The disillusionment of the “autonomous driving dream”?
Musk’s “double whammy”
FSD, this is the “core strategy” that Musk has devoted countless efforts to.
He once vowed in public: “FSD is Tesla’s ‘secret weapon’ that surpasses all competitors. In a few years, everyone will be able to leisurely enjoy the convenience of fully autonomous driving in the car without even touching the steering wheel.”
In order to realize this grand “autonomous driving dream”, Tesla invests billions of dollars in research and development funds every year and has established a technical team of thousands of people.
If this large-scale recall becomes a reality, it will not only shake the foundation of its technological leadership, but also cast a thick shadow on the future blueprint that Musk has always drawn.
“Life can’t always be smooth sailing. Sometimes it’s adversity that reveals the true qualities of a hero.”
The house leaked and it rained all night, and Musk’s troubles went far beyond that.
In the United States, an electric vehicle tax credit policy that has been in place for 17 years quietly expired on September 30.
This policy has brought huge sales dividends to Tesla and can save consumers up to US$7,500 in taxes and fees, which is equivalent to directly saving a considerable amount of car purchase money.
Now, the disappearance of this “life-saving straw” has undoubtedly greatly reduced Tesla’s appeal.
According to an American car dealer, Tesla orders in the store dropped by nearly 30% after the subsidy was cancelled.
“I used to receive more than a dozen orders a day, but now I only get four or five orders a day.
Many customers who had already paid a deposit immediately refunded their deposit when they heard that the subsidy was no longer available. “
To make matters worse, the U.S. government is currently facing financial constraints, and there has even been a “shutdown crisis” recently. This has made it even less likely that the previous government, which had reservations about canceling electric vehicle subsidies, would give the green light to extend the policy.
For Tesla, which is already in a whirlpool, this is undoubtedly “adding insult to injury.”
The “world of difference” between Chinese and American autonomous driving: Is it cautious or conservative?
This time the United States’ strict investigation of FSD also allows us to see more clearly the differences in the development paths of autonomous driving technology between China and the United States.
The name of the American FSD carries the ambition of “fully automatic”, and its functional design is also quite radical: it is given the ability to navigate autonomously from home to work, and can even identify and avoid police cars and fire trucks, and can also complete left turns at unprotected intersections.
The core concept is almost to make the vehicle “completely autonomous”.
The frequency of system updates is also quite amazing, sometimes several times a month.
However, what is the actual experience like?
A reporter who had an in-depth test drive of FSD said frankly: “It is far from as magical as Musk described.”
On the congested road sections in the morning peak, FSD’s braking logic is often frightening. It either brakes too aggressively, causing the car behind to almost rear-end; or it follows without slowing down, forcing the driver to be ready to take over at any time.
The parking scene is even more amusing. It can “turn a blind eye” to the clear parking space lines. It even misjudged the curb stones and almost scratched the car body.
Videos of people running red lights are even more common. FSD often displays “Accessible” on the screen when the red light is on. This is undoubtedly a joke with lives!
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Looking back at China, whether it is Tesla’s FSD or other brands’ intelligent driving systems, they are all dubbed “intelligent assisted driving”.
The word “auxiliary” is by no means false.
The vehicle manual repeatedly emphasizes that “the driver must hold the steering wheel at all times and is strictly prohibited from allowing the vehicle to drive completely autonomously.” The system will also pop up prompts “Please stay focused” from time to time.
This caution stems from a deep understanding of China’s complex road conditions.
Think about the morning rush hour in our big cities. Vehicles, electric vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and even “Old Man Music” are mixed in. Vendors and children playing on the roadside may become potential risk points.
Not to mention the hutongs in Beijing, the old alleys in Shanghai, the narrow lanes, and the sudden appearance of pedestrians, all of which are great challenges to the autonomous driving system.
Based on the current “radical” performance of FSD in the United States, if it is directly copied to China, I am afraid that the system will be “stuck” and unable to respond.
Fortunately, Tesla’s FSD in the Chinese market has already been extensively optimized for local regulations and road conditions.
It no longer claims to be “fully automatic”, but focuses on strengthening the “assistant” function and actively prompts the driver to take over at complex intersections.
This is a responsible attitude and respect for life safety.
Warning from the “guinea pig”: Safety is always the first consideration in technology
Musk can be described as having a “unfavorable year” this time.
A strict inspection of 2.88 million vehicles may trigger a large-scale recall; the decline in subsidies for electric vehicles will worsen sales. These two blows are enough to make him miserable.
However, for us consumers, this may be a good thing.
Whether in the United States or China, driving safety should be the highest priority.
Running red lights and driving in the wrong direction may seem like minor problems, but they may lead to irreparable tragedies.
The U.S.’s severe review of FSD is, to some extent, a “test of the waters” for Chinese consumers.
Let them experience and test it first. It will not be too late for us to consider introducing FSD after it has been operating safely on American roads for several years and proven its reliability.
If 2.88 million vehicles are indeed recalled, Tesla’s losses will be huge.
By then, Musk may have to fly to China again to seek new market breakthroughs. After all, the significance of the Chinese market to Tesla is self-evident.
“Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.”
But no matter how technology develops, security will always be an insurmountable red line.
If FSD cannot completely solve its existing safety hazards, even if Musk has the ability to “turn stone into gold”, it will be difficult to win back the public’s trust.
Technological progress should serve people rather than become a potential threat.
