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Tesla driver involved in tragic California crash to stand trial

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A Tesla Model S driver who was involved in a tragic crash in a Los Angeles suburb will be standing trial. The driver was believed to have been operating his Tesla with Autopilot when the crash occurred. 

According to a Los Angeles County Judge, there is enough evidence to try 27-year-old Kevin George Aziz Riad on two counts of vehicular manslaughter. The case would likely be the first felony prosecution in the United States against a driver using an advanced driver-assist system. 

Authorities have noted that Riad’s Model S left the freeway and ran a red light in Gardena on December 29, 2019. The all-electric car was traveling at 74 mph when it hit a Honda Civic at an intersection, according to an ABC News report. 

The impact was so violent that 40-year-old Gilberto Alcazar Lopez and 39-year-old Maria Guadalupe Nieves-Lopez, the occupants of the Civic, were killed. Relatives who later spoke to the media stated that the pair were on their first date when they were struck by Riad’s Model S. 

Riad, for his part, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The same was true for a woman who was with Riad in the Model S. 

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Prosecutors in the case noted that the Model S’ Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control were engaged at the time of the collision. A Tesla engineer who testified noted that sensors in the vehicle showed that Riad had his hand on the steering wheel. However, crash data showed that no brakes were applied in the six minutes prior to the accident. 

While Autopilot is capable of performing driving maneuvers, the company has constantly reminded drivers that they have to pay close attention to the road whenever the system is operating. Tesla has also been consistent in reminding its customers that in its current iteration, Autopilot does not make a car fully autonomous. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla launching in Saudi Arabia

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla is officially launching in Saudi Arabia. The electric vehicle manufacturer is arriving in Saudi Arabia with a launch event at the Bujairi Terrace on April 10, 2025.

“Explore our global bestselling lineup and step into a world powered by solar energy, sustained by batteries, and driven by electric vehicles.

“Experience the future of autonomous driving with Cybercab, and meet Optimus, our humanoid robot, as we showcase what’s next in AI and robotics. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about Tesla ownership, home charging and more,” stated Tesla.

The event will start at 20:00 and end at 23:00. Slots for the event are limited. Anyone who wants to attend can sign up here.

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Initial reactions to Tesla’s arrival in Saudi Arabia seem to be positive. In the company’s announcement on X, a few responders commented that they’ve been asking Tesla to come to Saudi Arabia for years. Early reactions hint that Tesla’s brand name is not tarnished in all countries.

Excitement for Tesla in Saudi Arabia contrasts reactions to the brand in the United States, some parts of Canada, and select European cities. Tesla vehicles, stores, and Superchargers have been a target for arson as Elon Musk’s public image continues to gather hate. The Tesla attacks have led to the FBI forming a task force to address the incidents.

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Tesla attacks get FBI task force to squash the acts of ‘domestic terrorism’

The FBI has launched a task force with the ATF to stop violent Tesla attacks & investigate a March 29 anti-Tesla protest.

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Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

An FBI task force has been assigned to crackdown on Tesla attacks, which have been targeting the company’s stores, Supercharger stalls, and vehicles.

“Can confirm: The FBI has launched a Task Force in conjunction with ATF to coordinate investigative activity and crack down on violent Tesla attacks. More to come,” noted the FBI’s Assistant Director to Public Affairs, Ben Williamson, on X.

The FBI task force assigned to end attacks on Tesla is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Most Tesla attacks involve setting a store, Supercharger, or vehicle on fire, usually by throwing a Molotov cocktail. The task force will also be working with the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.

“The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response. This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel on X.

The FBI is looking into two active anti-Tesla sites and the “Tesla Takedown” protest scheduled for March 29. One of the sites is Dogeque.st, which has been doxxing Tesla employees and locations across the United States. The website is also doxxing Tesla owners, resulting in safety concerns for civilians.

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The anti-Tesla attacks have resulted in at least four arrests thus far. Three people were arrested for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla stores, Superchargers, and vehicles. One person was arrested for driving into a crowd of protesters in front of a Tesla store. Fortunately, none of the attacks–on either side–have resulted in injuries or fatalities.

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Multiple explosives found at Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas

The disturbing incident follows a series of vandalism and arson cases linked to Tesla facilities and vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Multiple incendiary devices were discovered inside a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas on Monday morning, police have stated. The disturbing incident follows a series of vandalism and arson cases linked to Tesla facilities and vehicles, which have since prompted federal and local investigations.

Devices Found After Anonymous Tip

Austin Police Department officers responded to the Tesla showroom following an anonymous call about alleged bombs inside the building. Upon arrival at the location, authorities found several “suspicious devices,” which were later identified as incendiary by the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad. 

The bomb squad was able to remove the incendiary devices without incident. Citing the police department, the Daily Mail has noted that the devices were designed to cause “large-scale explosive violence.” No arrests have been made in relation to the incident as of writing, though an investigation is ongoing.

The Austin PD’s Statement

A release from the Austin Police Department’s Public Information Office described the details of the incident:

“On Monday, March 24, 2025, at approximately 8:04 a.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a Found/Abandoned Hazardous call at the Tesla dealership located at 12845 N. US 183 Hwy SVRD NB. When officers arrived on scene, they located suspicious devices, and called the APD Bomb Squad to investigate. The devices, which were determined to be incendiary, were taken into police custody without incident. This is an open and ongoing investigation, and there is no further information available for release at this time,” the Austin PD wrote.

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Attacks Linked to Musk’s Government Role

The apparent Tesla Austin attempted bombing comes amid escalating violence against Tesla properties, which seemed to be attributed in no small part to Elon Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration initiative slashing federal spending. Musk, during a conversation with Sean Hannity of FOX News, claimed that the aggressive attacks stem from his efforts to curb waste.

“It turns out when you take away people’s, you know, the money that they’re receiving fraudulently, they get very upset. And they basically want kill me because I’m stopping their fraud and they want to hurt Tesla because we’re stopping the terrible waste and corruption in the government. And, well, I guess they’re bad people. Bad people do bad things,” Musk noted.

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