A California administrative law judge has ruled that Tesla’s marketing of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” systems is misleading, and recommended that the company—led by CEO Elon Musk—face a 30-day suspension of its license to sell and manufacture vehicles in the state. This information was shared by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on December 16.

The California DMV has formally accused Tesla of false advertising related to its driver-assistance features since 2022. DMV Director Steve Gordon announced during a press conference on Tuesday that regulators will give Tesla 90 days to clarify or remove language deemed misleading or confusing in its marketing of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD). If Tesla fails to comply within that timeframe, the DMV will suspend the company’s vehicle sales license in California for 30 days. However, Gordon noted that the DMV will temporarily delay suspending Tesla’s manufacturing license to avoid disrupting operations at the company’s California factory.

Back in 2022, the DMV concluded that marketing campaigns using the names “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” had led consumers to believe Tesla vehicles were capable of fully autonomous operation. In reality, these systems still require drivers to remain attentive at all times, keep their hands on the steering wheel, and be ready to intervene with steering or braking whenever necessary.

Tranh cãi quanh phán quyết Tesla phải bồi thường khi xe tự lái đâm chết người

Since then, Tesla has adjusted its terminology, renaming its advanced driver-assistance package to Full Self-Driving (Supervised) to emphasize the driver’s mandatory oversight role.

Tesla has not yet issued an official response to media requests for comment as of Tuesday.

Despite the regulatory actions, Tesla shares closed at a record high in the same trading session, driven largely by Wall Street investors’ optimism surrounding the company’s plans to roll out a self-driving taxi service.