49ers Coach Says Tesla Was on Autopilot During Crash, Still Takes Responsibility

Shanahan, who said he has used Autopilot for nine years, emphasized that the crash was still his responsibility. “You can’t take your eyes off the road. It’s a partnership driving, you don’t just turn it over to a computer,” he said. He also added that he does not yet know whether the system malfunctioned or whether he inadvertently disengaged it.

The coach’s comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s driver assistance systems. According to The Verge, Autopilot has been linked to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths over the years, with some legal cases resulting in settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars.