Elon Musk Touts Tesla Self-Driving Tech, Acknowledges Lawsuits

Tesla CEO says FSD saves lives but admits ongoing legal challenges

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:12am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of the sensor array and computer components that power a Tesla vehicle's self-driving capabilities, conceptually representing the advanced technology at the heart of the company's autonomous driving system.Tesla's self-driving technology, while still a work in progress, is touted by CEO Elon Musk as saving many lives despite ongoing legal challenges.Austin Today

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has praised the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, claiming it saves many lives despite ongoing criticism and investigations. Musk acknowledged that while FSD has improved and prevented 90% of auto accident fatalities, Tesla will still face lawsuits from the remaining 10% of incidents. He also noted that most of those saved won't even be aware Tesla's technology protected them.

Why it matters

Tesla's self-driving capabilities have been a major point of focus, with the company facing regulatory scrutiny and lawsuits over the technology. Musk's comments highlight the company's efforts to tout the safety benefits of FSD, even as it grapples with the legal and reputational challenges.

The details

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk quoted a video showing a Tesla on FSD swerving to avoid a collision with a pedestrian in limited-visibility conditions. He stated that 'Tesla self-driving saves a lot of lives - the statistics are unequivocal.' However, Musk also acknowledged that despite the system 'saving 90% of the million lives lost' annually in auto accidents, 'Tesla will still get sued for the 10% who did die.' He claimed that '90%' of the would-be fatalities still alive 'won't even know that Tesla saved them.'

  • On Monday, Musk made the comments on the social media platform X.

The players

Elon Musk

The CEO of Tesla Inc., a leading electric vehicle manufacturer known for its advanced self-driving technology.

Tesla Inc.

An American electric vehicle and clean energy company that has been at the forefront of autonomous driving technology development.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing motor vehicle safety, including investigating issues related to self-driving technologies.

Andrew Percoco

An analyst at Morgan Stanley who has made predictions about Tesla's vehicle delivery targets and the importance of the company's Robotaxi ramp-up in Austin.

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What they’re saying

“Tesla self-driving saves a lot of lives - the statistics are unequivocal.”

— Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Inc.

“Tesla will still get sued for the 10% who did die.”

— Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Inc.

“90% of the would-be fatalities still alive 'won't even know that Tesla saved them.”

— Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Inc.

What’s next

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has closed its probe into Tesla's 'actually smart summon' feature, but the agency is still investigating the broader FSD system. The ongoing regulatory scrutiny and legal challenges surrounding Tesla's self-driving technology will likely continue to be a focus for the company and industry observers.

The takeaway

Elon Musk's comments highlight Tesla's efforts to tout the safety benefits of its FSD technology, even as the company faces growing criticism, regulatory investigations, and the threat of lawsuits. The debate over the capabilities and limitations of self-driving systems remains a complex and contentious issue, with Tesla seeking to balance innovation and safety concerns.