Whistleblower drops 100 GB of Tesla secrets to German news site (jalopnik.com)

Article summary

A German news outlet has obtained over 100 GB of internal Tesla files, which reveal a pattern of the company downplaying customer complaints about Autopilot glitches, including phantom braking and unintended acceleration. The files contain over 1,000 accident reports and show that Tesla employees were instructed to avoid written communication with customers and to prioritize minimizing the company's liability. The leak suggests that Tesla may have been aware of these issues for years and failed to adequately address them. The authenticity of the files has been verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology.

Main themes

• Tesla Autopilot safety
• Phantom braking
• Customer complaints
• Liability and transparency
• Driving safety practices
• Advanced driver assistance systems

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that Teslas are more prone to phantom braking and should be treated with caution on the road.
• Others argue that statistically, Teslas are among the safest cars on the road and that phantom braking is not a significant issue.
• There is disagreement about the effectiveness of Tesla's Autopilot system and whether it is truly safe for use on public roads.
• Some commenters think that the problem of phantom braking has been largely solved in newer Tesla models with updated hardware and software.
• Others point out that even if newer models have improved, older models are still on the road and may pose a risk to other drivers.
• Commenters also discuss the importance of safe driving practices, such as maintaining a safe distance and avoiding distractions while driving.
• There is a debate about whether Tesla's approach to customer complaints and liability is transparent and customer-friendly.
• Some commenters suggest that the issue of phantom braking is not unique to Tesla and that other car manufacturers may have similar problems with their advanced driver assistance systems.