California’s DMV has filed a formal complaint in Oakland, accusing Tesla of deceptive marketing around its “Autopilot” and “Full Self‑Driving” features.
The DMV alleges Tesla’s branding suggests full autonomy — autonomy Tesla’s own systems cannot deliver — and seeks to suspend the company’s vehicle sales and manufacturing licenses for 30 days
According to DMV testimony, Tesla’s promotional language — like claims of “no action required” by the driver — creates dangerous confusion, as both features legally require active driver supervision.
Tesla argues it clearly states in manuals and on its website that the systems are not fully autonomous.
In earlier court proceedings, a judge rejected Tesla’s attempt to dismiss the DMV’s complaint, allowing these allegations to proceed to a full administrative hearing scheduled for September. Tesla also faces a related federal case in Miami over a fatal crash tied to its Autopilot system.
These twin legal challenges mark a pivotal moment for Tesla. A ruling in favor of the DMV could temporarily halt its operations in California, the EV giant’s largest U.S. market, and strip Tesla of its key vehicle licenses.
