Sat Aug 02 01:13:41 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, written from a general news perspective:

**Tesla Ordered to Pay $243 Million in Autopilot Crash Case**

**Miami, Florida – August 2, 2025:** A Florida jury has ruled against Tesla, ordering the electric vehicle giant to pay $243 million in damages to the victims of a fatal 2019 crash involving a Model S equipped with Autopilot. The verdict, reached on Friday, marks a significant win for plaintiffs in similar cases and could open the door for further legal challenges against the company.

The case centered on an incident where a driver, George McGee, operating a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged, struck a parked vehicle, resulting in the death of Naibel Benavides Leon and serious injuries to Dillon Angulo. The jury found Tesla liable for 33% of the compensatory damages, amounting to $42.6 million. While the driver was found to be 67% responsible, he was not a defendant in the case.

Plaintiffs argued that Tesla was aware that Autopilot was intended for highways but did not prevent drivers from using it on other roads. They further stated that Elon Musk made claims that Autopilot drove better than humans. Tesla contends that the driver was solely responsible for the crash, stating that no car in 2019 would have prevented it.

Legal experts suggest this verdict could spur additional lawsuits against Tesla regarding Autopilot safety and potentially increase future settlement costs. The ruling also poses a challenge to Musk’s plans to expand Tesla’s autonomous driving capabilities, including a planned robotaxi service. The company’s stock price fell 1.8% on Friday following the verdict. Tesla plans to appeal the ruling.

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