[Watch] Tesla on beta software slams into SUV and ‘just kept going,’ raising safety concerns
Tamara Meyer, a Maryland driver, was sitting in her parked car after doing some shopping at her local mall. Just as she prepared to leave, a vehicle struck her. Meyer turned around and saw nothing.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” she told NBC. A Tesla pulling out of its spot, without its driver, caused the damage. “There was no one in the car, no one was driving, no passenger – it was an empty car that hit my car. And then it kept going after impact.”
The Tesla owner, as shocked as Meyer had used the “Smart Summon” feature to make his car drive itself to him.
Tesla advises using the feature in parking lots, on private property, or for backing the car out of driveways within 20 feet of the driver.
What sparked concerns was the warning next to the description of the feature on Tesla’s website reading, “BETA.” So, developers are still refining and improving it by using customer vehicles to collect live data.
Experts say BETA software to Tesla customers was ‘dangerous’
Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety told the outlet it was irresponsible to release largely untested software to the public.
“They’re releasing [software] too early, you know, before they’ve been validated as safe, or before they’ve even been validated to work properly,” he said.
Meyer said she’s grateful the damage wasn’t worse, and that the Tesla didn’t ram into her.
“I’m so glad I wasn’t standing near my car,” she said.