Tesla might need to change the language around its Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) features, following California’s DMV accusation of misleading marketing.
After a host of internal issues, such as supply chain disruptions, shortage of raw materials, and production delays, Tesla is also into legal trouble. The automaker is accused of falsely advertising its renowned Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
California’s DMV believes Tesla made “untrue or misleading” statements on its website for marketing purposes. Moreover, according to California’s Civil Code, the advertisements displayed on at least five dates between May 2021 and July 2022 are termed as ‘deceptive practice.’ Tesla has 15 days to respond to this complaint, after which California’s DMV will make a default decision. Worst case, Tesla might temporarily lose its manufacturer license and special plate number in California, something no Tesla enthusiast wants!
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the first controversy surrounding Autopilot tech; back in 2016, the German government also filed a complaint. Then, it prohibited Tesla from using the term ‘Autopilot’ as it misled the masses into believing the vehicle was fully autonomous and needed no driver supervision.
Specifically, the advertisement said, “All you will need to do is get in and tell your car where to go…Your Tesla will figure out the optimal route, navigating urban streets, complex intersections, and freeways.”
However, we know self-driving is challenging, as the 273 crashes involving Tesla vehicles in just the past nine months investigated by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) confirm. Regardless, Tesla defended the Autopilot, saying it has had a lower crash rate per mile than normal driving since 2018.
The Autopilot feature is standard across all Tesla models, whereas the FSD tech adds $12,000 to the vehicle’s price. Tesla also offers FSD as part of a $199 monthly subscription. Quite the price for a falsely advertised product, isn’t it?
In addition, the unfinished driver assistance feature (FSD Beta) is also available for drivers to test on public roads — a rather risky affair! Still, more than 100,000 drivers already have access to the Beta feature.
While Tesla may advertise its product as self-driving capable, the driver is still completely responsible for everything that happens. And as an automaker, it is essential to maintain safety standards and promote safe practices among consumers, even after selling a vehicle.
Likewise, the Californian DMV also wants Tesla to better educate and inform its drivers about the limitations of the Autopilot or FSD technology and urge them to use it with caution.
Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you posted with Tesla’s official response!
