Tesla’s Autopilot Under Investigation By California Attorney General
Tesla’s autonomous systems are already the subject of multiple investigations by the NHTSA focused on crashes, but now it seems they’re being put under an entirely different microscope. The California attorney general’s office has opened its own investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot technology and the way it was marketed to consumers, according to a new report.
Complaints from Tesla owners have prompted the California attorney general’s office to take action. Greg Wester, a Model 3 owner, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission last year over his EV’s erratic behavior when Autopilot was engaged. Wester was unhappy with the autonomous driving experience and felt deceived after paying thousands of dollars for the top-line Full Self Driving package.
After months of waiting, Wester received a voicemail from California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office requesting to discuss his grievances. This development confirms that the attorney general’s office is actively investigating Tesla’s Autopilot technology.
Wester believes that Tesla should offer customers the option to receive a full refund of Autopilot features if they are unsatisfied with the product. He also claims that when he purchased the Full Self Driving package, he believed he was buying a fully autonomous car but instead received a driver monitoring product with partial autonomy.
It is not just Wester’s complaint that is being investigated by the California attorney general’s office. A former Tesla employee and current Model 3 owner has also been contacted for an active investigation. The details of this investigation are yet to be disclosed.
Both Tesla and the attorney general’s office have declined to comment on the matter. Tesla has not previously disclosed that it is under investigation by the attorney general’s office. However, with multiple complaints being investigated, it is surprising that Tesla has not acknowledged the issue.
In defense of Tesla, it is worth noting that phantom braking is not exclusive to cars from this particular automaker. Many cars with semi-autonomous systems also exhibit erratic behavior. While this does not excuse the issue, it suggests that Tesla is not the only company struggling with this aspect of autonomous driving.
The investigation by the California attorney general’s office raises questions about the marketing and functionality of Tesla’s Autopilot technology. Consumers who have invested in this feature expect a fully autonomous driving experience, but it seems that the reality falls short of their expectations.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen what actions the attorney general’s office will take and what impact this will have on Tesla and its Autopilot technology. The findings could potentially lead to changes in how Tesla markets and sells its autonomous driving features, as well as improvements in the functionality and reliability of Autopilot.
In conclusion, the California attorney general’s office has opened an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot technology and its marketing practices. Complaints from Tesla owners have prompted this action, with customers expressing dissatisfaction with the autonomous driving experience and feeling misled by the product’s capabilities. While Tesla is not the only automaker facing issues with semi-autonomous systems, this investigation highlights the need for greater transparency and accuracy in marketing autonomous driving features. As the investigation progresses, it will be interesting to see how Tesla responds and what changes may be implemented to address these concerns.