49ers coach Shanahan confirms Tesla Autopilot engaged in July crash, accepts full responsibility

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has confirmed that his Tesla was operating on Autopilot at the time of a collision near downtown Palo Alto on 14 July. Speaking at a recent press conference, Shanahan provided the first explicit detail regarding the status of the vehicle’s driver-assistance system during the accident, which occurred approximately four weeks ago.

Despite the technology being engaged, Shanahan accepted full responsibility for the crash. He described the interaction between driver and machine as a "partnership," emphasising that operators cannot delegate control entirely to a computer. He stated that drivers must remain attentive and keep their eyes on the road, regardless of the system's status.

Shanahan, who has utilised Autopilot for nine years, indicated uncertainty regarding the specific trigger for the incident. He noted it remains unclear whether the crash resulted from a system malfunction or human error, such as him inadvertently disengaging the feature while turning around. He stated, "Who knows what happened when I turned around? Whether it malfunctioned or whether I knocked it off? That’s something I don’t know yet."

The collision left Shanahan with non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken nose, three broken ribs, a broken hand, a severe concussion, and more than 40 stitches to his face. He is currently participating in training camp on a limited basis while recovering, with assistant head coach Chris Foerster managing team duties in his absence.

Tesla’s Autopilot system has been linked to hundreds of crashes and dozens of deaths globally, with some incidents resulting in legal settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars. However, Shanahan maintained that the responsibility for safe operation ultimately rests with the driver, asserting that it is always the driver's fault whether Autopilot is engaged or not.