Tesla has announced the discontinuation of its Autopilot feature in the United States, according to their official configurator. Customers can no longer select Autopilot for new vehicles; instead, they may only opt for Traffic Aware Cruise Control in addition to the Standard package.
This change comes in response to threats from California regulators, who warned Tesla of a potential 30-day suspension of its manufacturing and sales licenses due to misleading advertising. The California DMV argued that the term "Autopilot" is deceptive since it merely combines Traffic Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer. Traffic Aware Cruise Control maintains a constant speed and distance from other vehicles, while Autosteer keeps the car centered in its lane and navigates through curves.
The DMV has stated that Tesla should not market the Autopilot feature under its current name, as it does not provide actual autopilot capabilities.
Additionally, Tesla is facing a legal challenge in China regarding its Full Self-Driving feature. Chinese authorities contend that customers purchased Tesla vehicles with the expectation of true self-driving functionality, which is not yet achieved.
In light of these developments, Tesla appears to be complying with California's demands by eliminating the Autopilot feature entirely. This move may also serve as a strategy to promote its Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscription service in the region, now priced at $99.
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