Following a string of accidents, two consumers groups have urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate “dangerously misleading” claims used by Tesla to promote its Autopilot system.
In a letter addressed to FTC chairman Joseph Simons, Consumer Watchdog and The Center for Auto Safety said “Two Americans are dead and one is injured as a result of Tesla deceiving and misleading consumers into believing that the Autopilot feature of its vehicles is safer and more capable than it actually is.” The groups go on to allege that statements and marketing from Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have made it “reasonable for Tesla owners to believe … that a Tesla with Autopilot is an autonomous vehicle capable of self-driving.”
The groups go on to ask the chairman to investigate the company because they believe Tesla is violating the Federal Trade Commission Act by making claims that are “likely to deceive even diligent consumers.” The groups note that Tesla’s Autopilot website boldly proclaims “All Tesla vehicles produced in our factory, including Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability at a safety level substantially greater than that of a human driver.”
The page also features a video of a Tesla driving itself with an intro message that reads “The person in the driver’s seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything, the car is driving itself.” The sped-up video then shows the car driving itself while the driver doesn’t even touch the steering wheel until he exits the car after a lengthy drive.
The groups say the National Transportation Safety Board has previously determined an over-reliance or lack of understanding about the limitations of the Autopilot system can result in death. They also allege that Tesla is contributing to the latter.
In a statement, The Center for Auto Safety’s Executive Director, Jason Levine, said “Tesla has repeatedly exaggerated the autonomous capabilities of its Autopilot technology, boosting sales at the expense of consumer safety.” He added, “The FTC must step in and expose this charade before more Americans are injured or killed.”
