Tesla uses the term “Autopilot” for its Level 2 system. This is criticized everywhere, including in its original homeland of California.
Tesla defended the use of the terms “Autopilot” and “self-propelled” for its driver-assistance features and argued to a regulatory action in California that the agency had given tacit approval by failing to take action in previous investigations. The California Department of Transportation last year accused the Elon Musk-led electric car company of misleadingly advertising its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features as autonomous vehicle control. The agency is now looking for solutions that could include revoking Tesla’s license to sell vehicles in California, the company’s largest U.S. market, and demanding compensation from drivers.
In a Dec. 5 statement to the state Office of Administrative Hearings, Tesla said the Department of Transportation banned the use of Autopilot in 2014 and the use of it and others in 2017 Terms have examined. Tesla emphasized that the ministry did not take any action against the company at the time or communicate that advertising or using these brand names could be problematic. The company claims to have relied on the ministry’s tacit approval. According to Tesla, their technologies require active driver monitoring and do not make the vehicle autonomous, according to their website. The Department of Transportation argued that Tesla’s disclaimer was the original misleading advertising claims not invalidated.