Consumer Reports Magazine Is NOT A Fan Of Half Baked Tesla Smart Summons Feature

After some Tesla owners have reported minor fender benders and other issues as a result of Tesla Smart Summon, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is keeping a close eye, Consumer Reports released information on its initial testing.

Overall, Consumer Reports (CR) says the Tesla feature — which is meant to assist people in "everyday situations" in parking lots — isn't really that useful. This is likely because the organization found that "the automation was glitchy and at times worked intermittently."

SanJoseDriver - 10/11/2019 4:18:34 AM

-6 Boost

Hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are fans.

MDarringer - 10/11/2019 8:07:00 AM

+8 Boost

Yeah, but you're paid to say that.

SanJoseDriver - 10/11/2019 4:23:58 AM

-6 Boost

Summon was definitely half baked when it first came out for those that opted into Early Access. Now it is maybe 3/4 baked and is going out to everyone. There was a minor update this morning and it seems to do a better job of staying towards the right side of the road instead of driving down the middle.

MDarringer - 10/11/2019 8:09:20 AM

+7 Boost

It simply is not moral or ethical to deploy a technology like this until it is fully engineered, tested, and proven. Once again, Tesla's practice of using the public as its beta testers is irresponsible. I'm praying for a Tesla to scrape my vehicle so I can sue to hell and back and get even richer.

SanJoseDriver - 10/11/2019 10:41:17 PM

-5 Boost

If the beta test will save more lives than otherwise, it's the right thing to do. Otherwise the opportunity cost of waiting are more needless deaths (40,000 people die from car crashes in the US every year).