(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. is beginning to follow through with Elon Musk’s pivot away from using radar for its driver-assistance system Autopilot, five years after espousing greater use of such sensors following a fatal crash.
The electric-car maker announced on its
Musk referred to radar sensors as “crutches” Tesla wanted to eliminate during the company’s latest earnings call. In September 2016, the chief executive officer announced Tesla would upgrade Autopilot by enhancing use of radar. Musk told reporters at the time that he believed the improvement
Tesla’s new approach is likely to add to controversy that has surrounded Autopilot for years. While the company said
Musk’s description of radar as a crutch also greatly differs from other companies trying to develop autonomous vehicles, including Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo and General Motors Co.-backed Cruise, which have emphasize using redundant sensors in case some fail.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Transportation Safety Board each have recently launched investigations into fatal crashes involving Teslas in
Tesla shares were little changed shortly after the start of regular trading Wednesday. The stock is down about 14% this year.