Tesla dodges 30-day suspension in California after removing Autopilot
Source: TechCrunch
Background
In November 2023, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) filed accusations that Tesla violated state law by using deceptive marketing for its advanced driver‑assistance systems. The DMV argued that the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self‑Driving” (FSD) misled customers and distorted the capabilities of the systems.
DMV decision
The DMV announced that it will not suspend Tesla’s sales and manufacturing licenses for 30 days because the company has stopped using the term “Autopilot” in its California marketing. The decision, issued late Tuesday, means Tesla can continue selling its EVs in the state without interruption and officially settles a case that had been dragging on for nearly three years.
Tesla’s corrective actions
- Full Self‑Driving terminology – Tesla replaced “Full Self‑Driving Capability” with “Full Self‑Driving (Supervised)” to clarify that driver supervision is required.
- Autopilot term – Tesla stopped using the term “Autopilot” in its California marketing, satisfying the DMV’s requirement.
“Since then, Tesla took corrective action and has stopped using the misleading term ‘Autopilot’ in the marketing of its electric vehicles in California,” the DMV stated.
Discontinuation of Autopilot
In January, Tesla discontinued the Autopilot name in the United States and Canada altogether, a move that helped it comply with the DMV and was viewed as a way to boost adoption of its Full Self‑Driving software.
TechCrunch report on the discontinuation
FSD pricing update
FSD Supervised, which previously required an $8,000 one‑time fee, is now offered through a monthly subscription of $99. The subscription fee is expected to increase as the system becomes more capable, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.