Tesla Faces First-Ever Jury Trial Over Fatal Autopilot Crash in Florida.

Tesla faces its first-ever federal jury trial linked to its Autopilot system over a fatal crash in Florida. The company's top North American sales executive, Troy Jones, has left amid a sales slump. Tesla has entered the Indian market with a $70,000 Model Y, yielding to steep tariffs. The firm's Autopilot system has been criticized for its safety record. Alphabet's Waymo self-driving car unit has expanded its robotaxi service, while Uber has partnered with China's Baidu to deploy self-driving taxis globally.

Tesla is set to face its first federal jury trial over a 2019 fatal crash involving its Autopilot system in Florida. The case, filed by the family of Naibel Benavides and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, alleges that Tesla's Autopilot feature was defective and unsafe. The trial, which began on July 14, 2025, is significant as it marks the first time a Tesla-related fatal crash involving Autopilot has gone to trial [1].

The plaintiffs allege that Tesla's Autopilot system should have activated the brakes and warned the driver of the car that a crash was imminent. Tesla, however, maintains that the driver was solely responsible for the crash. The company's statement to NBC News reads, "The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology. Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver" [1].

The trial comes amidst a challenging period for Tesla. The company's top North American sales executive, Troy Jones, recently left amid a sales slump. Additionally, Tesla has entered the Indian market with a $70,000 Model Y, yielding to steep tariffs. The firm's Autopilot system has been criticized for its safety record, with more than a dozen lawsuits filed over fatal or injurious crashes involving the system [1].

Meanwhile, Alphabet's Waymo self-driving car unit has expanded its robotaxi service, while Uber has partnered with China's Baidu to deploy self-driving taxis globally. These developments underscore the competitive landscape in the self-driving car industry [2].

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/14/musk-tesla-trump-autopilot-trial.html
[2] https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/Tesla-to-face-first-federal-jury-over-autopilot-system/14651