Tesla faces US lawsuit over fatal crash as European production ramps up

Tesla is again embroiled in a lawsuit after a Model 3 crashed into a home in Katy, Texas, killing a 76‑year‑old resident. The driver said the vehicle was on an automated driving function, but Tesla argues the system was overridden when the accelerator was fully depressed. The incident is under investigation and highlights ongoing questions about who is responsible when Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self‑Driving features are active.

At the same time, the EV maker announced plans to hire about 1,000 new workers at its Gigafactory near Berlin and increase output to roughly 7,500 vehicles per week, targeting an annual production of around 390,000 cars. The push follows a 57 % rise in European registrations from January to May, driven by higher fuel prices and German incentive schemes, even as EU regulators consider tighter rules on American tech firms.

Both developments underscore the dual pressures Tesla faces: legal scrutiny in the United States over its driver‑assist systems and a fast‑growing demand in Europe that is prompting a large expansion of its manufacturing capacity.