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Tesla Autopilot Faces Scrutiny in First Trial Over Fatal Crash

  • Company is accused of overhyping its self-driving technology
  • Jury to decide whether software or human error was at fault

A Tesla Motors Inc. Model S car equipped with Autopilot in Palo Alto, California.

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg 

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Tesla Inc. is headed to trial in southern California to defend itself against claims that its Autopilot driver-assistance technology is to blame for a fatal crash.

The jury trial set for opening arguments Thursday in Riverside County and another scheduled for Oct. 6 in Palm Beach County, Florida, are the first among several in coming months which will test Elon Musk’s mantra that Teslas are the safest cars ever made.