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In a European safety test that ranked driver-assist systems like Tesla's controversial Autopilot system, the Model Y received the highest grade of any vehicle.
In the "safety assist" category, which looked at safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping, the 2022 Model Y scored 98% higher than vehicles from Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Lexus, and Volkswagen.
In all, the Euro NCAP—which stands for "new car assessment program"—tests gave the Model Y a five-star rating.A vehicle with a five-star rating has robust crash avoidance technology and excellent crash protection performance.
In two of the four test categories, the Model Y scored highest of any vehicle tested, and it scored second in a third category, vulnerable road users, which examines interactions between cyclists and pedestrians.
Although none of Tesla's other vehicles were subjected to testing, its newer models feature the same standard driver assistance technology as the Model Y. In 2019, a Tesla Model 3 received a five-star overall rating.
The European version of Tesla's Autopilot is more restricted than the American version.For instance, the Smart Summon function is limited to 20 feet instead of 213 feet, which means that the car can only slowly drive to its owner.Additionally, Tesla has not yet specified when the beta version of "full self-driving" will be available in Europe.
Autopilot and "full self-driving," two driver-assist technologies developed by Tesla, have long pushed the limits of automobile technology.On long highway drives, many drivers report feeling less tired after using Autopilot's automatic steering function.However, the safety record of the system has been questioned, including whether the automaker does enough to keep drivers engaged and focused.Following a number of high-profile fatalities, the National Transportation Safety Board has urged Tesla to enhance its driver-assist technologies.Drivers who use Autopilot are found to be more distracted, according to research.
After competitors like General Motors and Ford included cabin cameras in their vehicles, Tesla began using them in its newer models in 2021 to monitor driver engagement.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into reports of Tesla vehicles with Autopilot colliding with stopped emergency vehicles on the road.This summer, it expanded its investigation, which may result in a recall.It is also looking into a number of fatal motorcycle accidents this summer in which cars with Autopilot struck and killed motorcyclists.In light of the crashes, it has been questioned whether the Tesla cabin camera can effectively detect distracted drivers at night, when vehicle visibility may be reduced.Instead, rivals Ford and General Motors use infrared technology, which may be more suitable for nighttime conditions.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment immediately and does not typically interact with professional news media.
A recent video showing Teslas equipped with what the company calls "full self-driving" running over a child mannequin inspired Tesla supporters to test the vehicles' safety with their own children.
The automatic emergency braking system of the Model Y "performed well" in its response to pedestrians, according to Euro NCAP.The scenarios that are included in the tests include a child running from behind parked cars and a pedestrian crossing a road that is being turned into by a car.Concerning emergency braking in close proximity to pedestrians, Tesla received a score of 7.7 out of 9.
Euro NCAP also noted that the Tesla system automatically adjusts the sensitivity of its forward collision warning system to be more reactive and uses a camera-based system to detect distracted drivers.
The driver-assist technology testing protocol developed by Euro NCAP does not specify whether systems are evaluated at night.
It did not respond to a request for comment right away.
