Tesla’s Smart Summon Performance Doesn’t Match Marketing Hype

We have still got a long way to go with autonomous vehicles.  Tesla’s latest option struggles in simple, slow speed environments as David Brown reports

The non-profit organisation Consumer Reports has tested Tesla’s recently launched Smart Summon feature on their Model 3, and found that at times it worked intermittently, without a lot of obvious benefits for consumers.

Using a smartphone, owners can summon their vehicles to come pick them up, to help in everyday situations, such as to avoid walking across a parking lot in the rain or with an armful of groceries.

The Model 3 owner’s manual contains numerous warnings of Smart Summon’s limitations, including that it can’t be used on public roads and can’t detect all traffic or kerbs. Some owners have reported minor fender benders while using the feature in parking lots and at low speeds.