Scott's order has seemingly now made it clear why Tesla may have considered those depositions and documents so damning. Tesla's Autopilot feature has been under investigation for years. In 2021, as Tesla began experimentally testing the feature with drivers it determined were safe, the US launched a major probe after 11 Teslas crashed into emergency vehicles. That same year, Consumer Reports found that Autopilot could easily be rigged to work without a driver in the seat, raising more safety concerns. By summer of 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had documented 273 crashes involving Teslas using Autopilot systems, and when the season turned to fall, the feds promptly opened a criminal investigation into Tesla Autopilot claims, "examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators by making unsupported claims about its driver assistance technology's capabilities." Tesla's troubles have continued throughout 2023.