Tesla to pay more than $200 million in damages after being found partly liable for fatal Autopilot crash

Tesla has been ordered to pay over $200 million in damages after a federal jury in Florida found the company partly liable for a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot driver-assist software. The crash, which killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides, occurred when the Tesla owner, George McGee, crashed into Benavides' vehicle after bending over to grab a dropped phone, believing Autopilot would protect him. This is a rare loss for Tesla in court, as the company has previously won two jury trials in 2023 over lawsuits alleging Autopilot was to blame for crashes. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has also accused Tesla of falsely advertising Autopilot and Full-Self Driving capabilities as autonomous driving features. Tesla plans to appeal the verdict, stating that it is "wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla's and the entire industry's efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology." The case highlights the ongoing debate around the capabilities and limitations of Tesla's Autopilot feature and the company's marketing claims.