Tesla's autopilot technology push puts the carmaker at risk for liability in crashes

By rolling out self-driving technology to consumers more aggressively than its competitors, Tesla Motors secured a spot in the forefront of a coming industry. But that strategy could expose the company to a risk it has sought to avoid: liability in crashes. Tesla in 2015 activated its autopilot mode, which automates steering, braking and lane switching. Tesla asserts the technology doesn't shift blame for accidents from the driver to the company. But Google, Zoox and other firms seeking to develop autonomous driving software say it's dangerous to expect people in the driver's seat to exercise any responsibility. Drivers get lulled into acting like passengers after a few minutes of the car doing most of the work, the companies say, so relying on them to suddenly brake when their cars fail to spot a hazard isn't a safe bet.