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

"Tesla has stopped using the term "Autopilot" to sell its cars in California, thereby avoiding a 30-day sales and manufacturing ban in the state. If you'll recall, a California administrative law judge ruled in December that the automaker misled consumers by using the terms "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving." The judge recommended the suspension, but the California DMV gave Tesla 60 days to remove any untrue and misleading language in its marketing materials. In its announcement, the DMV said Tesla has taken corrective action and has stopped using Autopilot for marketing."

"The judge was ruling on a complaint the DMV made back in 2022, wherein the agency accused Tesla of making and disseminating misleading statements. It argued that starting in May 2021, Tesla used deceptive marketing materials with the labels "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving Capability," as well as claimed that 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.""

"A ban in California could have had a huge effect on the company, seeing as the state accounts for nearly a third of its sales in the country. Tesla also recently announced that it will stop the production of its Model S and X cars to turn its Fremont, California factory where they were being manufactured into a space for the production of its Optimus humanoid robots."

Tesla stopped using the term "Autopilot" in California marketing to avoid a 30-day sales and manufacturing ban after the DMV found the terminology misleading. A California administrative law judge ruled the automaker misled consumers by using "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" and recommended suspension; the DMV instead required removal of untrue and misleading language within 60 days. Tesla clarified that driver supervision is still required for its Full Self-Driving feature and took corrective action to comply with the DMV. The DMV traced deceptive marketing to May 2021 and stated the vehicles could not and cannot operate as autonomous vehicles. California accounts for nearly a third of Tesla's U.S. sales.

Read at Engadget