(NEWSnet) — A Tesla video released in 2016 demonstrating the automaker's self-driving capabilities were actually staged, according to testimony by a senior engineer. 

The video, which remains archived on Tesla's website, demonstrated features like the ability to stop at a red light and accelerate at a green light. The system did not have those capabilities, according to the engineer’s testimony.

It was also promoted on Twitter by Chief Executive Elon Musk as evidence that "Telsa drives itself."

 

But the senior engineer now says the footage was staged, according to testimony in a deposition as part of a lawsuit against Tesla over a 2018 fatal crash involving a former Apple engineer.

The company said the driver in the vehicle was only there for legal reasons and the car was driving itself but, on test runs, drivers intervened to take control. On a trial run for self-parking, the test vehicle hit a fence in Tesla’s parking lot.

Tesla is facing scrutiny and lawsuits over their driver assistance systems.