Tesla won’t use the term ‘Autopilot’ in California anymore
Published: (February 18, 2026 at 05:21 AM EST)
1 min read
Source: The Verge
Source: The Verge
Overview
Tesla has stopped using the term “Autopilot” to describe the self‑driving capabilities of its vehicles in California, thereby avoiding a potential 30‑day sales suspension in the state.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced that Tesla took corrective action after a December investigation found the company’s marketing violated state law and could mislead customers into believing the cars would operate autonomously.
The DMV’s complaint stemmed from written marketing materials for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features that Tesla began publishing in May 2021. Those materials later included the qualifier “(Supervised)” to clarify the level of driver involvement required.