Articles by David Shepardson

Safety Probe Finds Tesla Driver Killed in Crash Reported Prior Autopilot Problems

A Tesla driver killed in a March 2018 crash in California while using the Autopilot driver-assistance system had reported that on prior trips, the car had steered away from the highway, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed in documents …

Lawmakers Urged to Help U.S. Keep Up with China on Autonomous Vehicles

A U.S. House panel on Tuesday heard from advocates of imposing stricter safeguards for self-driving cars as part of any effort to speed the adoption of the vehicles on U.S. roads. At the same subcommittee hearing, groups representing automakers and …

House Panel to Hold Hearing to Advance Rules on Self-Driving Vehicles

A U.S. House panel will hold a hearing Tuesday on autonomous vehicles as lawmakers try to hammer out legislation to advance self-driving cars. An Energy and Commerce subcommittee overseeing automotive issues will hear from officials of trade groups representing automakers …

U.S. Permits Startup Nuro to Deploy Up to 5,000 Driverless Delivery Vehicles

In a first-of-its-kind approval by U.S. regulators, a federal agency on Thursday gave permission for autonomous vehicle startup Nuro Inc. over the next two years to deploy up to 5,000 low-speed electric delivery vehicles without human controls like mirrors and …

Uber Goes to Washington. Autonomous Cars with Humans to Collect Data in D.C.

Uber Technologies Inc. will put self-driving vehicles on Washington, D.C. roads Friday with human drivers in control, the ride share company said on Thursday, as it seeks to collect data for future deployment of fully self-driving vehicles. Uber is collecting …

Toyota to Recall 3.4 Million Vehicles Over Defect in Air Bags

Toyota Motor Corp. said on Tuesday it will recall 3.4 million vehicles worldwide because of an electronic defect that can result in air bags not deploying in crashes. The recall, which includes 2.9 million U.S. vehicles, covers 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 …

Panel Urges Mandatory Safety Systems for Aircraft Manufacturers

An expert committee on Thursday recommended the Federal Aviation Administration’s require Boeing Co and other aircraft manufacturers to adopt new safety management tools in the wake of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes. Boeing grounded its entire 737 Max fleet, …

Lawsuits Over Missing Malaysia Plane Belong in Malaysia, Not U.S., Court Affirms

A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court decision to dismiss nationwide litigation over the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in which victims’ families sought to hold the carrier, its insurer Allianz SE and Boeing Co. liable …

U.S. Safety Agency Opens Probe into Deadly Tesla Crash in Indiana

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is launching an investigation into the Dec. 29 crash of a Tesla Model 3 that left a passenger dead after the vehicle collided with a parked fire truck in Indiana. …

Trump Administration Seeks to Limit ‘Overreach’ of Regulation of Artificial Intelligence

The White House on Tuesday proposed regulatory principles to govern the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at limiting authorities’ “overreach,” and said it wants European officials to likewise avoid aggressive approaches. In a fact sheet, the White …