Tesla autopilot critic who took US job out as trial witness

A Tesla critic slated to testify in a suit against the EV company has been replaced in the trial, after being appointed to the US government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. — REUTERS

Mary "Missy” Cummings, Duke University professor and vocal skeptic of Tesla Inc.’s Autopilot system, has been replaced as an expert witness in a suit against the company over a fatal crash after she was appointed to a US government job.

Cummings was no longer available after her appointment in October as a senior safety adviser for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to court filings.