Tesla argues California agency approved its Autopilot features amid false advertisement accusations

The largest EV maker, Tesla said on Friday its ‘Autopilot’ and ‘Self-driving’ car features were approved by California agencies in past investigations.

It all started when the California Department of Motor Vehicles accused Tesla of running false advertisements about Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD).

In a complaint filed last year, DMV claims that Tesla misled customers with false advertisements about how well its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technology works. However, the agency found it the advertisements contradictory to what Tesla is advising on its website as a ‘disclaimer’.

California’s DMV wants strict actions against Tesla and cancels its license to sell vehicles in the state. According to the information, California has the highest number of Tesla cars on its roads in the U.S.

Not only that, but DMV also requires the EV company to make restitution to drivers.

Meanwhile, a filing from the State Office of Administrative Hearings on Friday revealed Tesla’s stand on this matter. The carmaker stressed that the DMV investigated its use of the Autopilot brand in 2014 and other phrases in 2017.

Back then, the DMV took no action against Tesla or mentioned that the company was misleadingly using them.

Tesla also added in the filing that DMV in 2016 allowed the use of “self-driving” and similar terms about autonomous technology.

‘Tesla relied upon DMV’s implicit approval of these brand names” the company said.

(source – Reuters)