In a major move, Tesla has issued a recall for every car it has ever sold in China due to safety issues with its Autopilot driver assistance system. This recall affects over 1.6 million vehicles produced between August 2014 and December 2023, including locally built Model 3s and Model Ys, as well as imported Model S sedans and Model X SUVs. The Chinese regulator stated that Tesla drivers are misusing the Autopilot functions, which increases the risk of collisions and poses a safety hazard. This recall closely resembles Tesla’s response to a similar issue in the US, where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined that the automaker wasn’t doing enough to ensure proper usage of Autopilot.
These safety concerns have intensified scrutiny surrounding Tesla’s automated-driving systems, especially after several accidents, some of which resulted in fatalities. Despite CEO Elon Musk’s predictions of completely autonomous cars, Tesla still requires drivers to remain fully attentive and engaged while using features marketed as Full Self-Driving. Additionally, Tesla has separately issued a recall of 7,538 Model S sedans and Model X SUVs to address door latches disengaging during collisions.
Senators Call on Automakers to Stay Neutral in Unionization Efforts
A group of 33 senators has sent a letter to Tesla and 12 other automakers, including Toyota, Volkswagen, and BMW, urging them to remain neutral in unionization efforts by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union at their US production facilities. The senators are asking the automakers to pledge not to interfere with any organizing activities and to meet the standard of a neutrality agreement. This call comes in response to concerns raised about illegal actions taken by management at various automakers to block unionization efforts.
The letter specifically references National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) findings that Tesla used illegal tactics to hinder organizing efforts, including online harassment, employee interrogations, and retaliatory firings. Some automakers, such as Volkswagen and Hyundai, have refuted claims of union-busting, while others like Hyundai state that it is up to their workers to decide whether to join a union.
The UAW has recently launched a push to organize the entire nonunion auto sector in the US. Following successful contract negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers, the UAW announced campaigns to unionize workers at 13 nonunion automakers, representing nearly 150,000 employees.
Driverless Trucks Ready to Hit Texas Highways
Three autonomous trucking startups, including Aurora Innovation, Kodiak Robotics, and Gatik AI, are planning to operate driverless trucks on Texas highways without any humans on board. After years of testing, these companies expect to remove safety drivers and rely solely on software and advanced sensors, such as cameras, radar, and lidar. Notably, they have already completed successful cargo hauls for major companies like Walmart, Kroger, FedEx, and Tyson Foods.
This move towards driverless trucks has faced criticism, with skeptics arguing that financial motives rather than safety concerns are behind the push. However, these startups believe they have reached a stage where they can confidently operate trucks without drivers onboard by the end of the year.