German Court Rules Tesla's Wiper Controls Are Illegal

Tesla’s wiper controls through its touchscreen have been ruled illegal in Germany after someone crashed their Model 3 while using them and fought a fine and driving ban through the court system.

German courts are throwing a lot of sticks in Tesla’s wheel recently.

Last month, Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving claims were judged ‘misleading’ by a German court and now they are making the use of the touchscreen to modify wiper controls in the Model 3 illegal.

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SanJoseDriver - 8/4/2020 2:24:33 PM

+3 Boost

Have no idea why it was not on automatic wiper mode, which is now the best in the industry and included as standard on every Model 3 and Y ever built. It uses the camera system and has it's own neural net to control the speed. If you need to spray the windshield or do a few quick wipes, there is a button on the blinker stalk for that (which also pops open the wiper controls so there are no menus to go through).

MDarringer - 8/4/2020 2:44:05 PM

+2 Boost

If you have to fiddle in the touch screen to adjust wiper speed then it's NOT "the best in the industry".

SanJoseDriver - 8/4/2020 9:01:51 PM

+2 Boost

The idea is you don't touch it at all, ever. I don't think I had to adjust the wiper speed once all winter. It's not just automatic, but uses AI and machine learning to adjust control the system very precisely. It sucked at first but after a year learned how to do it as good as any driver.

Basically the driver was a noob, this should be part of the day 1 tutorial. If it was properly set to start he wouldn't have to adjust anything.

PUGPROUD - 8/4/2020 2:49:03 PM

+2 Boost

It is Germany after all.

atc98092 - 8/4/2020 4:38:50 PM

+4 Boost

This is a repeat of an article from a day or two ago. Germany did no such thing as ruling the wiper controls are illegal. They suspended the driver's license because he crashed while fiddling with the touchscreen when he should not have been.

There's a button on the turn stalk that can activate the wiper, and if he had set the wipers on Auto as he should have, he never would have needed the touchscreen in the first place. In addition, Tesla has voice control that could have been used instead of the touchscreen.

atc98092 - 8/4/2020 4:40:42 PM

+3 Boost

To quote the article, which is more accurate than your clickbait headline:

Electrek’s Take
I have to admit that Tesla’s wiper control did bother me on my Model 3 at first, but the automatic wipers have since improved reducing the need to play with the controls.

Also, there’s a wiper button on the left stalk. You press it once for one wipe or a prolonged press to clean your windshield.

Once you do either of those, the wiper options pop up at the bottom of your screen. You can adjust them with minimal interaction with the screen.

Finally, there are always voice commands if you really don’t want to take your eyes off the road even for a second.

vdiv - 8/4/2020 4:40:05 PM

+3 Boost

Think I am with the Germans on this. Tesla went a bit too far with the primary controls and indicators.

carloslassiter - 8/4/2020 6:25:46 PM

+4 Boost

Sounds like some legal home cooking to shaft the American competitor.