In an ongoing dispute with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Tesla has staunchly defended its use of the terms “Autopilot” and “self-driving,” refuting claims of false advertising. Responding to the DMV’s accusations from the previous year, Tesla filed a document this week asserting that the agency had implicitly approved the contested terminology in past instances.
Tesla’s filing, presented to the Office of Administrative Hearings on Friday, argued that the California DMV’s lack of action in prior investigations amounted to an implicit endorsement of the terms. The filing highlighted a 2014 probe into Tesla’s use of the Autopilot name, revealing that the DMV permitted the automaker to continue using the term without intervention.
“The DMV chose not to take any action against Tesla or otherwise communicate to Tesla that its advertising or use of these brand names was or might be problematic,” stated Tesla in the filing.
Furthermore, Tesla maintained that it received explicit approval to use the term “self-driving” in 2016 during the DMV’s regulatory development regarding statements on autonomous technology. According to Tesla, the resulting legislation, which omitted clauses from earlier DMV drafts that would have restricted certain titles, signified tacit approval of the language used in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta.
“Tesla relied upon Claimant’s implicit approval of these brand names,” Tesla added.
The outcome of this case carries the potential for substantial actions by the DMV against Tesla, including the revocation of the automaker’s license to sell vehicles in California, its largest U.S. market. Additionally, the agency might mandate restitution for drivers of Tesla vehicles equipped with Autopilot and/or the FSD beta.
Despite Tesla’s explicit warnings in owner’s manuals and within vehicles about the limitations of Autopilot and FSD beta, the DMV has previously contended that these disclaimers do not rectify the alleged false advertising violations.
The ongoing legal battle underscores the intricate regulatory landscape of the swiftly advancing autonomous driving industry, with possible ramifications for Tesla’s business operations and the broader trajectory of self-driving technology.
