The driver of an electric Tesla car has been killed while the vehicle was on autopilot.
It is understood to be the first road death involving a self-driving car, with American news outlets naming the driver as Joshua Brown from Ohio.
“What we know is that the vehicle was on a divided highway with Autopilot engaged when a tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular to the Model S,” Tesla said in a statement.
“Neither autopilot nor the driver noticed the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky, so the brake was not applied.”
Tesla’s autopilot includes automatic braking system. Telsa also has cameras, sensors and radar to steer the car and prevent road collisions.
Tesla says its features are designed for motorways and drivers must keep their hands on the vehicle at all times.
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