Hyperdrive
Teslas Don’t Have Black Boxes, Making U.S. Crash Probes Harder
- High-tech cars don’t have same requirements as airplanes
- Investigators must rely on manufacturers for accident data
Tesla Investors May Need Airbags With 1Q Production Numbers
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When a Tesla Inc. Model X slammed into a concrete highway barrier in California last month, the vehicle’s computers contained a wealth of information about the moments leading to the fatal accident.
The problem for U.S. accident investigators is that the information wasn’t easily accessible. The data stored on the Tesla is in a proprietary format that can only be accessed by the company. Similarly, the information the vehicles beam to Tesla computers on a regular basis can’t be obtained without the company’s cooperation.