Self-Driving · July 2025Gaffe level: Rampage
A Jury Said Tesla's Autopilot Killed a Woman. The Bill: $243 Million
A 2019 crash in which a distracted driver on Autopilot crossed a Florida intersection at 62 mph and struck a parked SUV killed Naibel Benavides Leon. A 2025 jury assigned Tesla 33 percent fault and $243 million in damages.
Source: NPR
85,000 California Home Batteries Team Up for a Record 745 MW Grid Save
During an October heat wave, more than 85,000 Tesla Powerwalls plus Sunrun home batteries discharged together for a record 745 MW virtual power plant event, bigger than most gas peaker plants in the state. Homeowners got paid for helping the grid through the evening peak.
Source: Electrek