Tesla Seeks Hearing on California Regulator Allegations of False Autopilot & FSD Advertising

Photo source: InBusiness

Tesla has asked for a hearing to present a defense after it was accused by the California state transportation regulator of falsely advertising its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities. The company won a similar case in Germany, where it obtained the right to freely use the words Autopilot and FSD for marketing.

On July 28, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) filed a complaint against Tesla with the state Office of Administrative Hearings. It claimed that Tesla misled potential customers with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features that exaggerated the effectiveness of advanced driver assistance systems.

Notices filed by Tesla with the state were released on Thursday, indicating that the manufacturer is seeking a hearing and intends to file a defense, according to Reuters.

In 2020, Tesla faced similar allegations in Germany. The local court initially ruled that the manufacturer should not use the words Autopilot and Full Self-Driving for marketing purposes. However, the company filed an appeal and won the case. The Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that Tesla could use the words “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” for marketing in Germany and the decision is final and not subject to appeal. The decision was based on Tesla being very clear that Autopilot and FSD are driver assistance systems, not features that provide actual autonomous driving. At the same time, consumers who are interested in buying a Tesla or how to use its features, can learn more by reviewing the readily available and comprehensive information provided by the manufacturer.

© 2022, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

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