Autopilot sensor maker faults Tesla for 'pushing the envelope' with safety, report says

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Mobileye chairman highlights gap between perception and capabilities

Mobileye, the company that supplies sensors for Tesla's semi-autonomous Autopilot driver assist system, is publicly criticizing Tesla's use and advertisement of the system in the marketplace, Reuters reports.

In comments to Reuters, the Israeli tech company's chairman suggested that Tesla is "pushing the envelope" when it comes to safety, after a string of crashes in 2016 in which the system was confirmed to had been used or was suspected.

"It is not designed to cover all possible crash situations in a safe manner," Amnon Shashua told Reuters.

The executive's comments address an apparent gap in some drivers' use and understanding of the limitations of the system and Tesla's advertisement of the system in official company literature and in company stores. The tech company parted ways with Tesla shortly after a fatal crash in Florida in May of this year, though Tesla CEO Elon Musk blamed the split on Mobileye's inability to keep up with the automaker's product changes, according to Reuters.

"Long term this is going to hurt the interests of the company and hurt the interests of an entire industry, if a company of our reputation will continue to be associated with this type of pushing the envelope in terms of safety," Shashua added.