Andrew Yang, in Tesla Model 3, Lets Autopilot Drive in Campaign Ad
In a campaign ad, presidential candidate Andrew Yang is seen taking his hands off the steering wheel of a Tesla while Autopilot is engaged, something the manufacturer warns against.
The feature has gained attention because of drivers misusing it and getting into crashes.
Tesla's Autopilot is a $7000 add-on that can keep the vehicle centered in a lane, switch lanes, and navigate entrance and exit ramps.
Stories abound about Tesla owners taking their hands off the steering wheel while Autopilot, Tesla’s driver-assist system, is engaged. Occasionally this results in some sort of accident—even though the manufacturer has repeatedly said drivers need to keep their hands on the wheel while the system is activated.
In a campaign ad released on Friday, Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang is behind the wheel of a Tesla Model 3. At one point in the ad, he engages Autopilot and removes his hands from the steering wheel while promoting his message of automation and its danger to jobs.
Tesla's Autopilot is the manufacturer's driver-assist system, which can keep the vehicle centered in a lane, change lanes, and navigate exit and entrance ramps on the highway while engaged. The feature is a $7000 add-on for new Tesla vehicles.
Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have tried to make clear that while drivers have Autopilot in use, they shouldn't take their hands off of the steering wheel as it isn't designed for drivers to disengage. The Tesla website says, "Before enabling Autopilot, the driver first needs to agree to 'keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times' and to always ‘maintain control and responsibility for your vehicle.' Subsequently, every time the driver engages Autopilot, they are shown a visual reminder to 'keep your hands on the wheel.' "
Nonetheless, Elon Musk has been filmed using the feature while his own hands aren't on the steering wheel. In a 60 Minutes interview in December 2018, Musk took his hands off the wheel of the moving vehicle while point out, "I’m not doing anything."
Andrew Yang's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Drivers have been confused about how the system should be used, which led to a senator making recommendations to Tesla about rebranding Autopilot to make clear that it doesn't make a vehicle fully autonomous.
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