California authorities passed a law prohibiting Tesla and other manufacturers from marketing driver-assistance technology as fully autonomous. Gizmodo reports.
The measure applies to developers whose systems are not fully autonomous. According to the document, manufacturers and dealers must offer consumers a “clear description” of the functions and their limitations.
Companies may not name or describe any elements of partial automation in marketing materials, using misleading phrasing. Consumers must be clearly aware of the absence of full autonomy in such vehicles, lawmakers say.
The changes will take effect on January 1, 2023. Violations will be treated as the use of misleading advertising.
The measure could directly affect Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. In the company’s support section on its website, it states that Autopilot and FSD do not remove the driver from participating in the vehicle’s control. However, the system’s name “fully autonomous driving” may fall under the new law.
Earlier, Tesla owners filed a lawsuit against the company over allegedly misleading Autopilot advertising.
The manufacturer denied the accusations and filed a motion to dismiss the suit.
As reported in October, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Tesla’s advertising promises about Autopilot.
In August, American consumer advocate Ralph Nader called to ban the FSD system amid its ‘dangerous and irresponsible actions’.
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