Right now we have something of a two tier level of liability which would for the most part work fine with automated vehicles. The primary liability falls on the owner/operator, who usually carries insurance. The owner/operator has some level of self interest in maintenance of the vehicle - otherwise an automated vehicle might have a perfect design, but the maintainer never changes the brake pads or operates with the tires worn, etc. If the insurance company finds that some model vehicle has reason to doubt it's design integrity, then that liability may be passed on in a separate case to the manufacturer. An individual owner is actually in a poor position to know systematically if there is reason to bring suit over a subtle design or manufacturing defect, but an auto insurance company has both data and the resources to see and react to defects.