The California Department of Motor Vehicles is accusing Tesla Inc. of falsely advertising the capabilities of its self-driving technology. Two complaints filed July 28 show that the DMV is seeking changes in the way Tesla
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promotes its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features or risk getting its manufacturing license suspended or revoked.
“Respondent made or disseminated statements that are untrue or misleading, and not based on facts,” read the complaints, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Times and filed with the state Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). Tesla has 15 days to respond by filing a “notice of defense.” The company, which no longer has a press department, did not return a request for comment Friday. After Tesla responds to the complaint, the matter could be brought to a hearing before the OAH, in which an administrative law judge would make a decision, according to the DMV. If Tesla disagrees with the decision, it could appeal to Superior Court. Or the company could reach a settlement with the DMV. “DMV seeks to require Tesla to provide more accurate terms and descriptions, and more and better consumer education of the product capabilities and limitations,” a DMV spokeswoman told MarketWatch Friday. In the complaints, the DMV refers to at least five dates between May and July during which Tesla on its website used sentences such as “The system is de …