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Consumer Groups Attack Tesla’s “Deceptive” Autopilot Claims
Two consumer advocacy groups have asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to curb Tesla Inc.’s “unfair and deceptive” claims about its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature.
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Two consumer advocacy groups have asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to curb Tesla Inc.’s “unfair and deceptive” claims about its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature.
Autopilot is an array of driver assist features that can automatically brake, accelerate and steer a Tesla vehicle under certain conditions. Tesla cautions drivers that they must remain alert, keep their hands on the steering wheel and always able to take full control immediately.
But in a joint letter to the FTC, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety complain that Tesla’s press releases and ad campaigns infer far greater capabilities for the technology.
The industry describes a fully autonomous vehicle as having Level 5 capabilities. Tesla’s system is Level 2. The letter says Tesla is the only carmaker to describe its system as “self-driving.” It also asserts that the “Autopilot” name connotes full, or Level 5, autonomy.
Two people in the U.S. have been killed in Tesla crashes in which their vehicle’s Autopilot system was operating.
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