Tesla Autopilot’s Origins Revealed

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is known for many firsts. Its status as the first automaker to lean heavily into autonomous vehicles is its most controversial first. It’s no secret that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the Palo Alto, California-based company like to innovate. Being the first comes with many rewards but can also bring trials and tribulations. We know the challenges that Tesla’s Autopilot feature face today, but how and why did the company come up with the idea in the first place?

Why did Tesla create an Autopilot feature?

The interior of a Tesla | Tesla

Tesla’s Full-Self Driving Mode and Autopilot features have been a major point of controversy, to say the least. Some consumers believe these features are the future of automobiles. Other consumers believe that autonomous vehicles are a danger to society and have the evidence to support their claim. The truth lies somewhere in between. The feature is so polarizing because it has yet to reach its full potential without causing accidents.

Ironically, according to InsideEVs, Tesla’s Autopilot was actually created to prevent accidents. Autopilot has been such a priority for Tesla because a Tesla driver who didn’t have the feature fell asleep and killed a cyclist. After the driver killed the cyclist by falling asleep behind the wheel, they attempted to sue Tesla.

Tesla created the feature to save others from suffering a similar fate to the cyclist. One day it may be capable of driving entirely on its own. It was originally created to avoid accidents when drivers were temporarily incapacitated. Thousands of accidents occur every year because of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Tesla aimed to eliminate as many accidents and fatalities as possible.

Is Tesla Autopilot worth getting?

Tesla Model 3 compact full electric car interior with a large touch screen on the dashboard on display at Brussels Expo.
The interior of a Tesla Model 3 | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

Tesla models include a standard Autopilot feature and an advanced Full-Self Driving Capability that can be purchased via a monthly subscription. Tesla Autopilot has saved drivers from accidents, but it is also responsible for quite a few accidents as well. As groundbreaking as the technology is, it is still far from reaching its peak potential. It has even been accused of being misleading. The software just isn’t safe for everyone; thus, it is only worth getting to drivers who are willing to use it responsibly.

Tesla’s Autopilot can potentially prevent accidents, but many drivers have irresponsibly used it as a crutch. It was designed to be used by attentive drivers. Still instead, many drivers have been using the feature as an excuse to fall asleep or get behind the wheel while intoxicated. The Tesla Autopilot feature could be great eventually but currently isn’t worth getting for most drivers that don’t want to monitor their vehicle during the process closely.

Is Tesla Autopilot self-driving?

Tesla interior | Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images

Tesla Autopilot uses multiple ultrasonic sensors and exterior cameras to detect other vehicles, people, and objects obstructing the vehicle’s path. Autopilot uses Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, a feature that limits the vehicle’s speed to the speed of the vehicles surrounding it. It also uses Autosteer, a feature that can steer the vehicle into clearly marked lanes.

Tesla’s Autopilot mode is marketed as self-driving, but the reality is that even its Full Self-Driving Capability should be monitored. It doesn’t make your vehicle completely independent. Think of it more as an advanced driver assistance feature. The marketing behind Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability has confused many consumers to the point that some Tesla owners aren’t even quite sure how the features work. When it comes to Tesla’s Autopilot, err on the side of caution. Its origins make the mode well-intentioned, but the software has a long way to go.

RELATED: Tesla’s Controversial Autopilot Saves Drunk Tesla Model S Driver

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A BEV World: Mercedes to Expand me Charge Network Worldwide for Push Towards an All-Electric Future

by Gabrielle DeSantis

EV sales are growing every year, and it’s become clear that the cars of the future won’t be flying, but they will be electric. Many automakers are getting in on this EV action, and recently, Mercedes-Benz has made a big push toward an all-electric future. Here’s a look at the company’s plans to electrify the automotive world.

Automakers’ plan for an all-electric lineup

Mercedes charging | Getty Images

While some automakers like Tesla are already producing only EVs, the big leap that’s still far away is established automakers having an EV-only lineup. Automakers are creating timelines to completely transition themselves to an all-electric future due to a mix of changing demands as well as laws and regulations. Automakers like Volvo are already on their way toward that goal, but Mercedes-Benz has been lagging behind.

The company does have a few EVs in its lineup, but its large-scale plans weren’t well-known. According to Green Car Reports, Mercedes-Benz recently gave an update on its EV goals. This update includes a timeline of when the automaker plans to have an EV-only lineup.

Green Car Reports wrote Mercedes-Benz would introduce the MMA platform in 2024. This platform will be for compact cars, and it’ll be used for both EVs and conventional vehicles. It will be the company’s last platform that will support conventional cars. Then the automaker will only introduce platforms for EVs. 

Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric future

Green Car Reports said that Mercedes-Benz, “doesn’t rule out” having old platforms that can support conventional cars in production. However, the automaker will introduce the three EV-platforms that’ll support its EV-only lineup in 2025. There’ll be the MB.EA platform for medium and large EVs, the AMG.EA platform for performance EVs and the VAN.EA platform for light commercial EVs, which include electric vans. 

Green Car Reports said that Mercedes-Benz would have EV-only offerings in places where “market conditions allow” in 2030. One of the ways the company hopes to facilitate that is by building its own charging ecosystem. According to Mercedes-Benz, its charging network, “The me Charge network,” currently has over 530,000 charging points worldwide, but the automaker isn’t done expanding it yet.

Mercedes-Benz said, “The me Charge network” will access an additional 30,000 charging points worldwide by 2025. This is thanks to customers having access to Shell’s Recharge network of chargers. According to Green Car Reports, “The me Charge network” will have its own app and support the Plug & Charge standard. These factors will help make charging as simple and convenient as possible.

What Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric future will look like

Mercedes-Benz doesn’t offer any EVs in the U.S. now, but that’s changing very soon. The automaker will debut its first EV in the American market, the Mercedes-Benz EQS, in fall 2021. It’ll be a pretty expensive luxury sedan, but it’s going to give the Tesla Model S some stiff competition. The EQS may get about 478 miles on a single charge, which would be more than what the Model S gets.

One of the concept EVs that Mercedes-Benz is developing is the 2022 Vision EQXX. Since it’s a concept, it may not become a production car. However, the Vision EQXX will get 621 miles of range, according to Green Car Reports. Mercedes-Benz hopes to be able to do that by focusing on efficiency. If Mercedes-Benz is able to achieve that, then the company can take a big leap forward for the automotive world. 

RELATED: Mercedes-Benz Poised to Steal Tesla’s Thunder With EV ‘Fireworks’

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The 2021 Audi Q5 Has Great Base-Model Features and Luxuries

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Audi Q5 is a great option for a luxurious family-oriented SUV, and what makes it even better is that you don’t have to buy the most expensive, highest trim levels to get all of the good features and comforts. With only three trim level options, the base model of the Q5 starts a bit high on the sticker price, but for everything, it has to offer it still does well to compete against other luxury SUVs of the same price.

An Audi badge | John Keeble, Getty Images

The 2021 Audi Q5 has many standard safety features

A dark-blue metallic 2021 Audi Q5 traveling on a city street past a theater marquee
2021 Audi Q5 | Audi

The 2021 Audi Q5 base model is the Premium trim, which does well to describe it. The starting price for the base model is $48,290, and you won’t be unhappy with everything it offers for the price. This includes plenty of driving aids and safety features that enhance your driving experience:

  • Front parking sensors
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Lane departure alerts
  • Forward collision warning and mitigation

Luxurious base model options make this SUV anything but basic

As a luxury SUV, we expect a lot from the 2021 Audi Q5, but if you are browsing through the competition and what other equivalent SUVs have to offer for the base model, the Q5 stands out from the competition. The Audi Q5 offers a lot of comforts and features that you typically have to pay extra for in other similarly priced SUVs, either in paying more for a higher trim level or even having to get additional packages that just add on to the price. The 2021 Audi Q5, however, offers many of those seemingly expensive luxuries in the base model and continues to offer them up through the higher, more expensive trim levels.

  • Powered lift gate
  • Apple CarPlay
  • LED headlights
  • Sliding (and reclining) rear seats
  • Three zone automatic climate control
  • Roof rails
  • Remote monitoring and controls with your smartphone device

Optional Convenience Package

If you don’t want to upgrade to the mid-level trim package, the Premium Plus, which has a starting price of $52,720, but you still want just a few more features and luxuries, you can opt for the convenience package even on the base model 2021 Audi Q5. As the name suggests, the Convenience Package makes the family-friendly SUV just a bit more convenient, with the addition of:

  • Satellite radio
  • Power-folding mirrors
  • Auto dimming mirrors
  • Keyless entry
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Driver’s seat memory

If these features and comforts still aren’t enough, you can expect all of the standard safety features and options on the higher trim levels, as well as even more fun and show-off worth additions to the car. But, the base model 2021 Audi Q5 itself is anything but basic, making it a great option for a family-friendly luxury SUV that you don’t feel obligated to spend more for higher trim levels just to get the basic features you’re looking for.

RELATED: The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV Has 1 ‘Hiccup’ but Plenty of Perks

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Bolt EV Fires Have Cost Chevy Almost $1 Billion So Far-Yikes!

by Gabrielle DeSantis

GM released its 2021 second-quarter earnings report and buried among the profit news was a little shocker. So far it has spent over $1.3 billion in recall costs. Within that category, it has spent over $800 million involving Chevy Bolt EV fires. Yikes!

Looking into the costs and profits for GM with the Bolt it looks like if GM sells one at the retail price it profits around $9,000. But that represents the difference in what it costs to manufacture it. We don’t know if development costs are factored in that “profit” number. Let’s say it does represent development so $9,000 is actual profit.

It looks like GM may never see any profit from selling Bolts

2021 Chevy Bolt | Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images

Since 2017 Chevy has sold 78,489 Bolts, not counting sales in 2021. But it will take selling roughly 89,000 Bolts to pay for what GM has spent on recalls and related Bolt EV fire issues. In other words, its Tesla Model 3 fighter is years away from giving GM any profit. And it has been produced since 2017. 

While its SUVs and pickups ring up the GM cash register, they’re supporting a huge loss with the Bolt. When the Bolt debuted in 2017 with a starting retail price of $37,000-plus. Today, it retails for $36,500. So with the cost of inflation, GM is making less now than when the Bolt was first released. 

Of course, if costs were amortized into the price over a certain amount of years GM could be seeing more profit now. We don’t know. But it at least paints a picture of how costly the Chevy Bolt is to GM. Both in terms of costs and reputation. 

The cost of the Bolt recall is more than just a GM accounting error

2020 Chevrolet All-Electric Bolt EV is on display at the 112th Annual Chicago Auto Show.
The Chevrolet Bolt | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

There is plenty of wiggle room for losses when you record $2.8 billion in net profits for one quarter. That is what GM did in Q2. But $800 million represents over a third of that second-quarter profit. Let’s just say it is more than an accounting error.

As MotorBiscuit has reported over the last couple of years Bolts are catching on fire. Just two weeks ago we reported on the latest Bolt recall for fire risk. It covered 69,000 2017-2019 Chevy Bolts and was the second major recall of the EV. 

The most recent recall was prompted by Bolt fires to previously “fixed” EVs from the first recall

A silver 2022 Chevy Bolt EV travels on a two-lane highway along a large body of water on a sunny day
2022 Chevy Bolt EV | General Motors

The second recall was partially prompted by two Bolts previously “fixed” in the first recall, catching on fire. At the time GM said the cause was a second “rare manufacturing defect.” The batteries were made by LG Energy Solution. 

The first Bolt recall was just in November 2020. So less than a year has passed with two recalls for the same battery fire issue. GM says it is aware of nine fires attributed to Bolt battery defects. In some cases, it has purchased back some Bolts from customers, but that number is unknown. 

For anyone that owns a Bolt with questions about these recalls, GM says you should visit its Bolt recall website or contact its Chevrolet EV helpline at 1-833-EVCHEVY. Or you can contact your preferred Chevrolet EV dealer.

RELATED: The Chevy Bolt Just Got Hotter – Literally

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