Tesla's Full Self-Driving might be facing trouble when it comes to a specific western state. The misleading term is being challenged by California lawmakers, who recently passed a bill in the Senate that could ban the software's name.
According to the LA Times, the California Department of Motor Vehicles’ rules don’t allow the advertisement of cars as “self-driving” if they do not have the capability. This legislation would make such regulation a state law.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Transportation Committee Chair Lena Gonzalez, will go to Governor Gavin Newsom for a signature.
But don't expect the legislation, if signed, to immediately forbid Tesla from using the term "Full Self-Driving” in California. The DMV, which has not commented on the bill, will still need to enforce it.
However, when the bill was gaining momentum in July, the DMV did file an administrative action against Tesla on false advertising.
Last month, the DMV told the LA Times it would request Tesla be required to educate drivers about full self-driving capabilities. The DMV did not comment on whether Tesla would be able to continue using the term.
Tesla's website mentions Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities. Full Self-Driving features a traffic and stop sign control beta and plans to have auto steering on city streets some time in the future.
But, Tesla includes a sentence that says the features "require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous." Tesla goes on to say, "Full autonomy will be dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience."
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