What happened
Euro NCAP, the European New Car Assessment Programme, published its assisted driving results for the Tesla Model S on 4 June 2025. It tested the latest version of Autopilot available at the time. The car scored 94% for safety backup, which covers sensor failure, an unresponsive driver and collision avoidance. In the tests of adaptive cruise control, the Model S avoided a collision in every scenario without needing its automatic emergency braking. It stayed centered in its lane through an S-bend at all test speeds. Euro NCAP gave it 96.1 of 100 points for vehicle assistance and 30.9 of 100 for driver engagement. It noted that the cabin camera is not used to monitor the driver and that the name Autopilot suggests full automation. It rated Autopilot Moderate because the high level of support could lead drivers to rely on it too much. The tests ran on test tracks, so no crash outcome on public roads is reported. Euro NCAP does not mention AI or machine learning in the datasheet.
Sources
-
Assessment report, by authors with no tie to the system.
Euro NCAP. Tesla Model S - Euro NCAP 2025 Assisted Driving Results - Moderate grading. Released 4 June 2025.
The Tesla Model S excels in the Safety Backup it provides and in the level of Vehicle Assistance, but fails to balance that high level of support with a similar level of Driver Engagement, leading to possible overreliance. Overall, 'Autopilot', as fitted to the Tesla Model S, is rated as Moderate.
-
Assessment report, by authors with no tie to the system.
Euro NCAP. Tesla Model S - Assisted Driving Datasheet 2025 (version 020625). June 2025.
The Model S responds to avoid a collision in all the ACC test scenarios and and does not require AEB intervention, scoring full points in this part of the assessment.
Details
AI system
- Workflow
-
The car combines map-based speed limits with live camera input. The system checks for the driver's hands on the wheel and does not use the cabin camera to monitor the driver. Tesla can change the system through over-the-air software updates.
Follow-up
- Conditions for replication
-
The driver must monitor the system and stay aware of the road at all times. Poor weather, faded lane markings and construction zones can interrupt the support.
Entry details
- Sector
-
Road vehicle crash avoidance / assisted driving.
- Purpose
-
Tesla built Autopilot to assist the driver with speed, braking and steering.
Not yet checked: model, release, provider, role, configuration, inputs and outputs, autonomy, human oversight, AI contribution, beneficiaries, reach, distribution and access, duration, every measurement question, every money question, ownership and control, dependencies, cross-border connections, geopolitical implications, replication attempts, availability, institutional decision, grounds, action and result, success criterion, every evidence question, observed or intended, alternative assessments, related entries, other identifiers, category mappings.
Cite this record
Peter H. Vartanian. (2026). Euro NCAP finds Autopilot a strong backup that engages drivers weakly (AIBD-0818). Artificial Intelligence Benefits Database, edition of 31 October 2026. https://petervartanian.xyz/aibd/records/AIBD-0818.html (archived at https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/AADSII, version 4.0)