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In a major development for Tesla, the electric carmaker announced a recall of its self-driving software on Friday, affecting approximately 158,000 vehicles. The recall comes after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot system.
According to Tesla, the recall is a precautionary measure and is not related to any accidents. The company said that the recall is being issued to address a potential issue with the Autopilot system that could cause it to disengage without warning.
In a statement, Tesla said that the recall affects Model S and Model X vehicles that were manufactured between 2012 and 2018. The company added that it will update the software remotely to fix the issue.
Tesla's Autopilot system has been a subject of controversy for several years, with some critics claiming that the technology is not reliable enough for fully autonomous driving. Tesla has defended the system, arguing that it is constantly improving and that accidents involving Autopilot are relatively rare.
The NHTSA has investigated several accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot system in recent years, including a fatal crash in Florida in 2016. In 2018, the agency also launched a probe into a crash involving a Model X that had Autopilot engaged.
The recall is likely to be a blow to Tesla, which has been a pioneer in the development of autonomous driving technology. The company has faced growing competition in recent years from traditional automakers and tech giants like Google's Waymo.
Tesla has not provided any details on the cost of the recall or how long it will take to update the software. However, the company said that it will notify affected customers via email and that they can schedule a service appointment with their nearest Tesla service center.
The recall is expected to begin in the coming weeks. Tesla has advised customers to avoid using the Autopilot system until the software has been updated.
