Why Tesla Stopped Using Its Most Problematic Term

California scored a win against a Tesla feature. Meanwhile, the automaker just produced its first Cybercab.

BY CHLOE AIELLO, REPORTER @CHLOBO_ILO

The score is California: 1, Tesla: 0.

Tesla successfully avoided a 30-day suspension of vehicle sales and manufacturing in California, after removing its Autopilot feature from vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced the update Tuesday, which comes just weeks after Tesla eliminated basic Autopilot in late January.

“The DMV is committed to safety throughout all California’s roadways and communities,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a statement late Tuesday. “The department is pleased that Tesla took the required action to remain in compliance with the State of California’s consumer protections.”

Tesla had been facing off with California regulators over allegations its use of the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving Capability” in marketing were misleading to consumers. The DMV originally filed accusations against Tesla concerning its use of the terms back in 2023. Eletrek noted in early 2024 that Tesla had begun adding “supervised,” when discussing “Full Self-Driving” and now refers to it as “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” on its site. 

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But Tesla had continued using “Autopilot.” In December 2025, the DMV issued a decision, adopting the findings of an administrative law judge, that Tesla’s use of the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving Capability” were “misleading and violates state law” and ordered Tesla to discontinue its use of the terms or face suspensions in what is its largest U.S. market. 

“When companies make false claims about vehicle capabilities, they endanger lives and the state will hold them accountable,” the statement reads.

Federal regulators have also investigated the safety of Tesla’s driver assistance technology. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, published in April 2024, investigated more than 950 crashes involving Teslas and found that Autopilot had contributed to close to 470 of them—13 of which were fatal. Regulators have alleged that marketing around the systems misled consumers into believing the systems were autonomous, when in fact they require driver supervision.

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