A former Tesla employee in Norway, Lukasz Krupski, has raised concerns about the company’s driver assistance software, citing issues with its preparedness for assisted driving. In an interview with the BBC, Krupski expressed worries about Tesla’s software and hardware for assisted driving. Leaked data, including customer complaints about Tesla’s braking and the Full Self Driving package, seems to support his concerns.
Krupski had previously provided the data to a German business newspaper, Handelsblatt, in May. Despite sharing his concerns with top officials within the company, he claimed to have been ignored. He discovered evidence suggesting that Tesla was neglecting safety protocols related to driver-assist technology. Krupski also highlighted instances of the well-known “phantom braking” phenomenon in Teslas, describing it as both unnerving and potentially dangerous.
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Tesla reports that its autopilot, or driver assistance software, experienced one airbag deployment crash on average for every five million miles driven last year. Krupski lost his job after taking photos of unsafe practices within the workplace, violating the company’s policy on taking pictures inside a Tesla facility, according to an interview with the New York Times.
The data Krupski provided includes lists of Tesla employees with their social security numbers, thousands of accident reports, and internal company communications. While he has informed the company of his intent to sue, he currently cannot afford to pursue the case. A lawyer in Norway is assisting him pro bono as they work to raise the necessary funds for the lawsuit.
