
TESLA Inc. faces a review in Germany over an Autopilot feature, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies into the U.S. carmaker’s driver-assistance technology. Germany’s federal motor vehicle office KBA is investigating Tesla’s automated lane-change function and whether it’s approved for use in Europe, Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported Sunday, citing a spokesman for the agency. The KBA is also in contact with the Netherlands’ vehicle agency, which is responsible for approving Tesla cars in Europe, according to the newspaper. Increased regulatory scrutiny is posing a risk to Tesla’s commercialization of automated-vehicle technology. Two weeks ago, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened its second probe into a possible Autopilot defect. The U.S. electric-car maker has drawn criticism over issues including how it branded the systems and whether it does enough to safeguard against inattentiveness and misuse. The latest development in Germany adds to the regulatory hurdles Tesla is facing in the country. Progress at its first European factory, in a site near Berlin, has been slower than expected amid a backlash from environmental groups concerned about water use and wildlife. (SD-Agencies) |