Tesla Faces Legal Battle Over Self-Driving Claims

Tesla’s legal woes continue as a California judge refuses to dismiss claims by the state’s DMV regarding the automaker’s alleged exaggeration of its cars’ self-driving capabilities.

Accusations of Misleading Statements

The DMV has accused Tesla of misleading customers by making false statements about the capabilities of its EVs’ Autopilot and Full-Self Driving systems. The battle dates back to July 2022 when the DMV claimed that Tesla was promoting its vehicles as autonomous when they were not.

Judge’s Ruling

Judge Juliet Cox has ruled that the case should proceed to a formal hearing, denying Tesla’s request for dismissal based on existing information. This decision comes on the heels of a similar ruling in a class-action lawsuit against Tesla related to self-driving claims.

Continued Scrutiny

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has been vocal about the company’s pursuit of autonomy, with plans to unveil a robotaxi in August. However, Tesla’s self-driving ambitions face ongoing challenges, including federal investigations into Autopilot’s role in accidents and scrutiny from the SEC over potential investor fraud.

Transparency on Tesla’s Website

Despite the legal battles, Tesla maintains on its retail website that both Autopilot and FSD require driver attention and do not enable fully autonomous driving.

As Tesla navigates these legal challenges, the future of its self-driving technology remains uncertain.