Tesla settles with family of 15‑year‑old Jovani Maldonado over 2019 San Francisco Autopilot crash

Summary

Tesla reached a settlement with the family of Jovani Maldonado, a 15‑year‑old who died in a 2019 San Francisco collision involving a Tesla operating on Autopilot. The agreement follows a Florida jury verdict that ordered Tesla to pay $243 million to the family of pedestrian Nabeil Benavides killed in a similar Autopilot crash. Both cases have heightened regulatory scrutiny of Tesla’s self‑driving technology, including a lawsuit by the California DMV challenging Tesla’s advertising. The settlement details were not disclosed, but the case underscores mounting legal pressure on Tesla as it advances its Robotaxi ambitions.