Tesla engineer admits Tesla didn’t maintain Autopilot crash records amid trial over fatal crash
A Tesla engineer admitted in court that Tesla didn’t maintain Autopilot crash records before 2018, 3 years after launching the ADAS system, in a trial over the death of a bystander in a crash involving Autopilot.
Tesla is currently on trial in Miami over a crash involving a 2019 Tesla Model S that was operating on Autopilot.
The case attempts to place some responsibility on Tesla for creating complacency with drivers, who were led to believe Autopilot could do more than it actually could.
George McGee was driving his Model S on Autopilot in Key Largo in April 2019 when he dropped his phone and looked down to pick it up when the car blew past a stop sign at a T intersection, and crashed into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe.
22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo were standing next to the parked Tahoe. Benavides died and Angulo was seriously injured.
The police charged McGee with reckless driving, but the families of the victims sued both McGee and Tesla. McGee settled with the plaintiffs, but Tesla hasn’t.
The automaker has been sued many times over fatal crashes related to its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. Recently, Tesla settled a few of those lawsuits, but this one is the first to make it to trial.
The plaintiffs allege that Tesla’s communications regarding Autopilot have led drivers, such as McGee, to become complacent and use Autopilot in a manner that led to this crash. They also claim that Tesla misrepresented the safety of Autopilot and failed to deploy proper driver monitoring to ensure its safe use.
The trial started on Monday and on Thursday, the jury heard testimony from Tesla software engineer Akshay Phatak who said that Tesla didn’t even complete records of Autopilot crashes before March 2018 (via Law360):
At the end of the first day of testimony, jurors watched part of the videotaped deposition of Tesla software engineer Akshay Phatak in which he said Tesla did not maintain records before March 2018 for evaluating whether it was safer to operate Tesla vehicles with the autopilot engaged or shut off.
When asked if Tesla maintained records or data before 2018 that kept track of the number of crashes that occurred per vehicle mile driven with the autopilot engaged, he replied simply, “No.”
That’s despite Tesla launching Autopilot almost 3 years prior. The jury will hear more of Phatak’s deposition today after Tesla attempted to keep it out of court over claims that it contains “sensitive trade secrets.”
Plaintiffs also challenged Tesla’s Autopilot safety report. We previously highlighted how Tesla suddenly stopped reporting the statistics and only started again a year later, while updating older data.
Dr. Mendel Singer testified on Tuesday and highlighted the discrepancy:
He noted that Tesla offered corrections to the vehicle safety report in January 2023 after finding some errors and miscounts. The crash data for when the autopilot was on stayed about the same, but the crash rate for when the autopilot was off went up by about 50% in the updated report, he said.
Mary Cummings, a professor and director of the Autonomy and Robotics Center at George Mason University and a longtime critic of Tesla’s self-driving efforts, is expected to testify today.
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Hyundai is keeping the savings going after extending its EV deals yet again. With leases starting as low as $179 a month, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is hard to pass up right now.
Hyundai extends IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9 lease deals
After a “breakout” month for IONIQ 5 sales in August, Hyundai looks to keep the momentum rolling. At least for another month.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 remains a top-selling EV in the US, and might be your best bet if you’re looking to go electric.
Through its Hyundai Getaway sales event, the 2025 IONIQ 5 was listed for lease for as low as $179 per month in August. Although the deals were set to end on September 2, Hyundai has extended them until the end of the month.
The 2025 IONIQ 5, now with more range, an NACS port, and a stylish new design, can still be leased for just $179 per month.
That’s for the Standard Range SE trim with a driving range of 245 miles. The extended range IONIQ 5 SE, with up to 318 miles of range, is available from $199 per month.
You can even snag the souped-up XRT trim for under $300 a month right now. All the offers are for a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
The deals include the $7,500 EV Lease Bonus, which is also set to expire at the end of September. With the bonus, the net cap cost drops to just $24,380 (SE Standard Range RWD model).
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | EV Powertrain | Driving Range (miles) | Starting Price* | Monthly lease price September 2025 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 168-horsepower rear motor | 245 | $42,500 | $179 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $46,550 | $199 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $49,500 | $209 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $54,200 | $309 |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $50,050 | $249 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $53,000 | $259 |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 320 horsepower dual motor | 259 | $55,400 | $359 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 269 | $58,100 | $299 |
Hyundai also extended the offers for its new three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9. Leases for the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 start at $419 per month. If you choose to finance it, Hyundai is offering a $5,000 cash bonus on all trims.
Both the 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 are built at Hyundai’s EV plant in Georgia, enabling them to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. With the credit set to expire at the end of September, the savings will likely disappear. It will be up to the automakers to step in with significant incentives to keep lease prices as low as they are.
Want to lock in the deals before they are gone? Check the links below to find local offers on the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 in your area.
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Costco members looking for a break on car prices can tap into a new Volvo deal this fall. Members can tap into limited-time manufacturer incentives through the Costco Auto Program, a year-round auto-buying service that secures prearranged low pricing. The latest: a Certified by Volvo Limited-Time Special launched this week.
Certified by Volvo vehicles are pre-owned Volvos that must pass a rigorous test with 170+ points, have less than 80,000 miles, and receive a detailed CARFAX Vehicle History Report. They come with roadside assistance, and EVs and plug-in hybrids also include an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.
Until October 31, 2025, eligible Costco members can score an exclusive bonus when buying select Certified by Volvo vehicles from model years 2022 through 2025.5. Gold Star and Business Members get $1,000 off, and Executive Members get $1,250 off. The offer applies to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and BEVs. What makes this deal sweet is that the Costco perk stacks with any other manufacturer incentives you qualify for.
Among the vehicles on the eligible list: The Volvo EX30, the EX90, the XC90*, the most requested premium midsize SUV among Costco members last year, and the Volvo C40 EV, which also topped requests in the premium electric compact SUV category.
To cash in on the offer, Costco members must register online for a certificate, then bring it to a Volvo dealership where they present it at the time of purchase. Full details are on the Certified by Volvo Limited-Time Special page.
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The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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The GV90 is set to arrive as the most luxurious Genesis vehicle to date. With its debut approaching, Genesis is showcasing the ultra-luxe SUV at its new flagship brand space.
Genesis opens new brand space based on the GV90
Although it’s not yet in production form, Genesis is still showcasing its stunning new full-size electric SUV. The Neolun concept, unveiled last March at the New York Auto Show, will soon arrive as the brand’s new flagship model.
When Genesis launches the GV90, expected in mid-2026, it will become the brand’s largest and most luxurious electric vehicle yet.
According to Genesis, the GV90 is “an ultra-luxe, state-of-the-art SUV” that will take the luxury brand to the next level. We’ve seen camouflaged prototypes out testing a few times, revealing advanced new features and luxury design elements, such as coach doors, adaptive air suspension, and more.
The GV90, or Neolun concept (for now, at least), is the centerpiece of the company’s new “Night in Motion” space, which Genesis opened on Thursday.
Based on the Neolun concept, the new exhibition is “the starting point of the Genesis brand’s spatial philosophy.” It’s designed to showcase the brand’s latest design and the beauty of Korean aesthetics.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026, but we could see an official debut before the end of the year.
We will learn prices, range, and other specs soon, but the GV90 is expected to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform. Hyundai claimed the new platform will “provide 50% improvement in driving range” compared to current EVs. It will also offer advanced Level 3 autonomous driving features.
One thing is sure: The Genesis GV90 won’t be cheap. As its largest and most luxurious SUV, the GV90 is expected to start at around $100,000. Higher trim levels could reach upwards of $120,000 or more.
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