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Germany Orders Tesla to Drop “Autopilot” Marketing Term

Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has demanded that Tesla Motors Inc. stop using the term “Autopilot” in its advertising to describe the semi-autonomous driving feature in its electric cars, Bild am Sonntag reports.
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Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has demanded that Tesla Motors Inc. stop using the term “Autopilot” in its advertising to describe the semi-autonomous driving feature in its electric cars, Bild am Sonntag reports.

Last week KBA sent letters to current Tesla owners in Germany reminding them that they must maintain the ability to take immediate control when using the Autopilot system, which can steer, brake and accelerate the vehicle automatically under many but not all conditions. Tesla has been providing the same advice to its customers, but recent media reports indicate drivers don’t always follow it.

Tesla confirms the letter but argues to Reuters that the “autopilot” term has been used in aerospace for decades to describe an automated system that also involves human intervention.

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