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Engadget
Fired Tesla manager says Full Self-Driving cars were 'rolling hazards'
Javier Medrano, a former Tesla manager overseeing Full Self-Driving testing, has filed a lawsuit against the company for unlawful retaliation. He asserts that a lack of resources and staffing made the FSD program dangerous. Following a crash he attributes to inadequate oversight, Medrano claims he was dismissed after escalating his concerns to management. The lawsuit highlights potential managerial flaws in Tesla's safety operations, which coupled with the technical challenges of autonomous driving, raises significant safety questions for the company's robotaxis.
MonitorConfidence: MediumImmediate horizonReputational risk: High
Published 28 Jul 2026, 22:25 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Javier Medrano alleges he faced retaliation after reporting safety concerns.
- He describes Tesla's robotaxis as 'rolling hazards' due to lack of resources.
- The lawsuit suggests that incidents were handled under severe staffing constraints.
- Medrano is seeking restoration to his position and compensation for damages.
- Tesla has previously faced criticism for its technical approaches to autonomy.
Interesting facts
- The ratio of operators to managers claimed by Medrano was significantly higher than recommended.
- Concerns about the safety of Tesla's FSD technology have been voiced prior to this lawsuit.