Tesla Removes Autopilot Branding in California to Continue Selling Vehicles

Jakarta (ANTARA) - US automotive manufacturer Tesla has been required to overhaul the names of its features in order to continue selling vehicles in California.

Arena EV reported on Wednesday (18/2) local time that to avoid severe penalties, Tesla has ceased using “Autopilot” as a marketing term in California. If the company fails to comply, the state has threatened to suspend Tesla from conducting business there for 30 days.

The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) first raised its concerns in 2023. The agency felt that the names “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” promised more than Tesla’s vehicles could actually deliver.

When a car carries a name like “Autopilot,” drivers may be tempted to look at their phones for various purposes, from playing games to watching films, or in more extreme cases, taking a nap.

Tesla submitted several safety reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The reports examined a small fleet of Tesla robotaxis during December and January.

Over those two months, the vehicles were involved in five accidents. This may not sound like many, but calculations tell a different story — the autonomous vehicles were involved in accidents four times more frequently than the average human driver over the same distance.

The data shows that even the best electric vehicles still require a human touch. Driving is a complex task that demands quick thinking.

Tesla continues to improve its software, but the new names in California serve as a reminder of reality.