Why is Tesla's 'fully automated driving' dangerous compared to other manufacturers?
In June 2025, Tesla reported
We Investigated Tesla's Autopilot. It's Scarier Than You Think - YouTube
Tesla has long used 'autonomous driving' as one of its selling points in its advertising strategy, but it was not until 2025 that it began offering 'fully autonomous driving' rather than just assisted driving with its robotaxis.
Video of Tesla's self-driving robot taxi on the road becomes a hot topic, Elon Musk claims that it will be carrying passengers by June 2025 - GIGAZINE
However, there have been reports of robot taxis making the wrong turns and not obeying the speed limit.
Manufacturers that are bringing fully autonomous vehicles to the market, including Waymo, which is widely expanding its robotaxi business, are equipping their vehicles with LIDAR, radar, and cameras.
How does 'LiDAR,' a tool that allows robots and self-driving cars to understand their surroundings, work? - GIGAZINE
LIDAR emits laser beams to understand the vehicle's surrounding environment. Its advantage is that it can accurately read the surrounding situation, but its weakness is that its effective range is not very wide. This is compensated for by radar technology, which is slightly less accurate but has a wider effective range. Cameras are also used in conjunction with LIDAR to integrate and process the information. LIDAR, radar, and cameras are essential for operating a vehicle in fully autonomous driving mode, and all manufacturers except Tesla operate all three together.
Tesla also previously used laser sensors, but in 2021 it changed its policy to remove the sensors and use camera footage instead.
However, Cummings expressed concern about relying solely on computer vision using camera images, saying, 'Computer vision has a 97% accuracy rate, which means that out of 100 attempts, it will make three mistakes,' and Eric Gardner of More Perfect Union said, 'If a plane flies 100 times and crashes three times, no one will get on it.' Regarding Tesla's lack of use of three sets like other manufacturers, Cummings cited the economic problem that all sensors are expensive.
Regarding the name 'Autopilot' used by Tesla, engineers argued that it should be called 'Copilot' (driving assistance), but Musk pushed through, and it is reported that the engineer who opposed it resigned.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has filed a lawsuit against Tesla for false advertising regarding its self-driving technology. Cummings said, 'I think 'Autopilot' is a terrible name, and 'Full Self-Driving' is simply false advertising.' Tesla has also defended itself by saying, 'We call our products 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised)' and have never referred to them as self-driving.'
Tesla has managed to avoid several lawsuits by settling or dismissing them, but in August 2025, Judge Rita Ling of the California District Court ruled that a class action lawsuit could be filed over Tesla's claims of 'autonomous driving.' While Tesla's only gain from winning this lawsuit would be maintaining the status quo, it has been pointed out that this could be the 'beginning of the end,' as other states may file similar lawsuits.
Tesla drivers can pursue class action over self-driving claims, judge rules | Reuters
In Florida, Tesla was ordered to pay $240 million in damages after a fatal accident caused by Autopilot.
Tesla ordered to pay over 35 billion yen in damages, ruling that Tesla is partially responsible for fatal accidents that occurred while using Autopilot - GIGAZINE
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