They included descriptions like “Autopilot” and “Full Autonomous Driving Capability” and used words like “All you’ll have to do is get in and tell your car where to go…Your Tesla will figure out the optimal route, navigating through urban streets, complex intersections, and highways,” the lawsuit said.
Another statement that the California DMV alleged was misleading read: “The system is designed to be capable of short- and long-distance trips without any action being required by the person in the driver’s seat.”
“These ads are a deceptive practice” under the California Civil Code, the DMV complaint says.
Tesla does not typically respond to requests for comment.
Tesla has posted disclaimers since June warning that the features still require active driver supervision, contradicting “misleading labels and claims,” the complaint added.
Tesla’s advertising actions could cause it to temporarily lose its manufacturer’s license and special license plate number in California, the complaint warned.
Of a total of 497 accidents studied by the NHTSA, 43% of those caused by driver assistance technologies took place in California, according to the data.
tesla has 15 days to respond to the complaint in order to avoid a default decision.
The Los Angeles Times was the first media outlet to report on the complaint.
CNN’s Matt McFarland contributed to this report.