Tesla stops using 'Autopilot' to promote its EVs in California

Source: Engadget

Background

Tesla has stopped using the term “Autopilot” to market its cars in California, thereby avoiding a potential 30‑day sales and manufacturing ban in the state.

Legal ruling

A California administrative law judge ruled in December that Tesla misled consumers by using the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self‑Driving” (FSD). The judge recommended a suspension, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) gave Tesla 60 days to remove any untrue or misleading language from its marketing materials.

The DMV’s announcement confirmed that Tesla has taken corrective action and has ceased using “Autopilot” for marketing. The agency also reiterated that driver supervision remains required when using the Full Self‑Driving feature.

The ruling stemmed from a complaint the DMV filed in 2022, accusing Tesla of disseminating deceptive marketing statements beginning in May 2021. The complaint alleged that Tesla’s advertisements claimed the “system is designed to be able to conduct short and long‑distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat.” In reality, the vehicles equipped with those features could not, and still cannot, operate as autonomous vehicles.

Potential impact

California accounts for nearly one‑third of Tesla’s U.S. sales, so a ban could have had a substantial effect on the company’s revenue.

Related developments

Tesla has also announced that it will cease production of the Model S and Model X at its Fremont, California factory. The plant will be repurposed for manufacturing the Optimus humanoid robot, which Tesla plans to begin selling to the public by the end of 2027.