A mass Tesla recall of more than two million vehicles in the US is not as alarming as it suggests, according to a motoring expert.
The company announced the move amid concerns about its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system.
Speaking on GB News, Ethan Bearman from The Bearman Firm said recalls are “part of the process” for Tesla, and are a necessary part of the development of electric vehicles.
“The average internal combustion engine car has 23 computers on board”, he said.
Ethan Bearman defended Tesla's recall
REUTERS / GB NEWS
“Recalls are a part of that development process. Whether you’re talking about legacy ICE vehicles or new EVs, the advantage of the new EV is that recall doesn’t require any of those two million Tesla owners to go anywhere to get the fix installed.
“It’s an over the air software update. My Ford has had numerous updates, only one recall actually affected me, requiring me to go to the dealership.”
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The recall applies to almost every Tesla sold in the US since the Autopilot feature was rolled out in 2015.
Teslas sold in the UK are not said to be a part of the recall, with the UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency adding that cars sold in Britain are not equipped with all of the same features as those in the US.
"Teslas sold in the UK market are not self-driving and are not approved to do so," a spokesperson said.
Autopilot is supposed to help with steering, acceleration and braking, but still requires driver input despite its name suggesting otherwise.
The updated Tesla Model 3TESLACEO of Baxter Auto Group, Mickey Anderson, did not concur with the sentiments put forward by Bearman, arguing the US public is not ready for a mass transition to electric vehicles.
“It might be achievable, but what seems unachievable is getting that amount of consumer adoption that quickly”, he said.
“There are real logistical limitations to what the American consumer is willing or at this point interested in buying.
“What we’re seeing in US car dealerships across the country is demand for these products that runs well below the supply.
“It would be extraordinarily below ambitions at this point.”
He added there is too much “range anxiety” amongst Americans when it comes to the usage of electric vehicles.
“Range anxiety is to some irrational phobia”, he said.
“It is the actual utility of the vehicle, particularly in markets where we have stores.
“Think about Colorado, where we have extremes of elevation and temperature and these cars are just not practical solutions for the majority of Americans.
“The current offerings of electric vehicles are expensive and the infrastructure just doesn’t exist to make them useful for most Americans today.”