Tesla is initiating a recall of over two million cars following findings by the US regulator that its Autopilot driver assistance system was partially defective.

This action comes after a two-year investigation into accidents that occurred while the technology was in use. The recall encompasses nearly every Tesla sold in the US since the introduction of the Autopilot feature in 2015.

Tesla, under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, has stated that it will address the issue through a software update delivered remotely.

This update is automatic and eliminates the need for a visit to a dealership or garage, although it is still termed a recall by the US regulator.

During the investigation, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered issues with the controls of the Autopilot feature, raising concerns about its misuse by drivers.

Despite the name, Autopilot is designed to assist with steering, acceleration, and braking, requiring ongoing driver engagement.

The NHTSA emphasized the importance of responsible deployment of automated technology for improved safety, expressing intent to monitor the software even after the update.

In response to the recall, the UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency stated it was not aware of safety concerns related to Teslas in the UK, clarifying that cars in the UK lack some features present in their US counterparts.

The agency affirmed its commitment to monitoring the situation.

Although Tesla did not provide a comment in response to inquiries, the recall notice indicated that the company, while not fully agreeing with the agency's analysis, would introduce new features to address concerns, including additional checks when activating the self-driving features.

The recall comes a week after a former Tesla employee told the BBC he believed the technology was not safe.

Lukasz Krupski, speaking after winning the Blueprint Prize which recognizes whistleblowers, told the BBC: "I don't think the hardware is ready and the software is ready".

"It affects all of us because we are essentially experiments in public roads", he claimed.

Reacting to the news of the recall Mr Krupski told the BBC it was "a step in the right direction" but pointed out it was not just a problem in the US.

"The hardware is the same in all the Teslas in the US, China, etc.", he said

On Tuesday, Tesla defended the safety of Autopilot in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a Washington Post article.

"Safety metrics are emphatically stronger when Autopilot is engaged than when not engaged," it wrote, pointing to statistics that suggested there were fewer crashes when the system was used.

Jack Stilgoe, associate professor at University College London, who researches autonomous vehicles, said Tesla should have spent more time developing the system in the first place.

"The conventional way of ensuring safety is to check that a car is safe when it leaves the factory", he told the BBC.

But despite this being the second recall this year affecting Tesla vehicles, Susannah Streeter of investment company Hargreaves Lansdown said she assessed that it should not check the carmaker's momentum too greatly:

"This recall of 2 million cars on its own is not likely to seriously quash enthusiasm. The share price has dropped back slightly, but it doesn't look like it'll be hit by a bad bout of skidding.

"After all, recalls in the car industry are far from unusual and the group also has the financial ability to invest in fixes", she added.

Tesla has heavily promoted the technology in its cars and says remaining at the cutting edge of self-driving is key to its future growth.

Goldman Sachs analysts estimated this month that Tesla's most advanced Autopilot offering, full self-driving, could end up generating more than $50bn a year in revenue by 2030, up from $1bn-$3bn presently.

In the US, the full self-driving package costs $12,000, or a $199 monthly subscription fee.

"Autonomy is really where it's at," Mr Musk told investors this summer.

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