The driver of a Tesla Model S that crashed while on autopilot mode in China is claiming the accident happened because sales staff overplayed the vehicle ’s self - driving abilities . The driver claims he was misled by a Tesla demonstrator who “ took his hands off the steering wheel and took his feet off the accelerator and the brake ” during a test drive . Furthermore , a local Chinese report from Reuters has pointed out that Tesla ’s China website uses the term “ zidong jiashi ” several times to explain autopilot mode , “ which is most literally translated to mean ' self - driving . ' It is also the term for airplane autopilot , leaving room for confusion among consumers . ” Tesla insists it goes to great lengths to make clear that it requires the driver to remain engaged at all times .
The driver of a Tesla Model S that crashed while on autopilot mode in China is claiming the accident happened because sales staff overplayed the vehicle’s self-driving abilities. The driver claims he was misled by a Tesla demonstrator who “took his hands off the steering wheel and took his feet off the accelerator and the brake” during a test drive. Furthermore, a local Chinese report from Reuters has pointed out that Tesla’s China website uses the term “zidong jiashi” several times to explain autopilot mode, “which is most literally translated to mean 'self-driving.' It is also the term for airplane autopilot, leaving room for confusion among consumers.” Tesla insists it goes to great lengths to make clear that autopilot requires the driver to remain engaged at all times.