A California tech entrepreneur is spearheading a Super Bowl ad campaign against Tesla, criticizing the company’s Autopilot technology for not being disabled outside its intended conditions. Dan O’Dowd, leading the Dawn Project, funded the campaign, urging viewers to “Boycott Tesla” over safety concerns highlighted by The Washington Post’s investigation and a recent recall affecting nearly every U.S. Tesla with Autopilot.

This marks O’Dowd’s second consecutive year running such ads, showcasing footage of severe crashes involving Teslas. Despite Tesla’s claim that its software requires a fully attentive driver, O’Dowd questions why Autopilot isn’t disabled on unsafe roads. Tesla, including CEO Elon Musk, has not responded to the criticism.

The ads depict significant crashes allegedly involving Autopilot, including incidents where the system was operating outside its intended use. O’Dowd’s group aims to raise awareness and hold Tesla accountable for these incidents.

Tesla’s financial struggles and concerns over its ability to deliver promised self-driving technology have intensified. Musk’s request for a larger stake in the company faces skepticism from investors, compounded by a recent court ruling deeming his 2018 pay package unfair.

The ads, airing in select regions, highlight growing public scrutiny over Tesla’s Autopilot and its broader corporate challenges.

Source: Adapted from The Washington Post