SAN FRANCISCO — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reportedly investigating whether Tesla Motor’s autopilot feature was engaged during a non-fatal July 1 crash — what would be the agency’s second inquiry into the automaker’s self-driving technology in as many weeks.
The wreck involved a Tesla Model X in Pennsylvania.
Last week, the agency disclosed a separate investigation into a fatal crash in Florida in May that involved a Tesla Model S. The driver in that collision was using Tesla’s assisted driving feature at the time of the incident, which helps motorists steer and stay in lanes.
The electric car manufacturer said Wednesday in a prepared statement that it received a message from the vehicle’s computer July 1 indicating a crash had occurred, but more details were never transmitted.
“We have no data at this point to indicate that Autopilot was engaged or not engaged,” a Tesla spokesperson said. “This is consistent with the nature of the damage reported in the press, which can cause the antenna to fail.”
