A Czech man was scared when he experienced the "ghost braking" problem that plagues electric cars. Soon after, his Tesla was submerged in a swamp.
A 45-year-old Czech man was frightened when his Tesla Model X suddenly braked unprovoked – also known as "ghost braking" – during traffic at the Austrian lake Traunsee.
The car, with autopilot switched on, braked hard and then accelerated violently. The man, who had not previously experienced this phenomenon, reacted by jerking the steering wheel, which resulted in the Tesla skidding straight into the nearby sow.
This is written by the media Stern .
Fortunately, the man was alone in the car and was able to swim ashore by himself before the rescue team arrived. The Tesla floated around in the water for a while, because it sank to the bottom at a depth of five meters.
"Ghost braking" is a phenomenon in which Tesla's autopilot mistakenly detects an obstacle and applies heavy braking. Although it usually only creates a short-term danger situation, this incident illustrates the potentially serious consequences of the error.
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Tesla's Autopilot system, especially the more advanced "Full Self Driving" version available in the US, has previously been the subject of fierce criticism and the basis of entire lawsuits.
In one case earlier this year, Tesla was sued after a fatal accident in which a Model S with "Full Self Driving" enabled hit a motorcyclist.
Despite these incidents, Tesla continues to develop self-driving technology. The company has recently introduced two new models, the Cybercab and the Robovan, which are designed to be fully self-driving without a steering wheel or pedals. Production of these models is expected to start in 2026.
Tesla's approach to self-driving technology differs from the competition by exclusively using cameras, while other car brands use a combination of cameras and sensors.
This decision is based on Elon Musk's belief that cameras alone are sufficient to ensure a well-functioning system.
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