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Germany's Federal Motor Authority Warns Tesla Over "Autopilot" Advertising

posted by cmn32480 on Monday October 17 2016, @03:47PM   Printer-friendly
from the keep-your-eyes-on-the-road dept.

takyon writes:

Germany's Federal Motor Authority recently sent letters to Tesla drivers reminding them that the "Autopilot" function is for driver assistance, not replacement. Now, Tesla is being warned against advertising the feature:

German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt has asked Tesla to stop advertising its electric vehicles as having an Autopilot function as this might suggest drivers' attention is not needed, his ministry said on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the ministry, confirming a report in the daily Bild am Sonntag (BamS), said the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) had written to Tesla to make the request. "It can be confirmed that a letter to Tesla exists with the request to no longer use the misleading term Autopilot for the driver assistance system of the car," she said in a written response to a Reuters' query.

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  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Monday October 17 2016, @08:08PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday October 17 2016, @08:08PM (#415358) Journal
    I notice no one has yet to present a case that Tesla's branding is misleading. It's all about what an imaginary "general public" would think, ignoring that Tesla drivers are not the general public and can readily be targeted by education efforts (such as a pamphlet or website that tells you what the "autopilot" can and can't do, and how it works, which can be read prior to any purchase of a Tesla).

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 17 2016, @09:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 17 2016, @09:57PM (#415438)

    Ah, I see. Tesla owners are not only richer than your average person, but clearly more intelligent too.

    I'm sure their farts don't stink either.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 18 2016, @07:33AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 18 2016, @07:33AM (#415578)

    I notice no one has yet to present a case that Tesla's branding is misleading

    Go on Youtube, search for Tesla autopilot. See how many of them think the "autopilot" allows you to take your hands off the steering wheel.

    The so-called "autopilot" is not approved for that, and Tesla even insists that it is NOT good enough for driving without your hands on the steering wheel. Calling it "autopilot" misleads people into thinking that it will allow them to do that.

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday October 18 2016, @02:22PM

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 18 2016, @02:22PM (#415676) Journal
      Again, what's misleading about the term? I'm not wasting my time with ignorant people who don't know have a clue and don't own a Tesla. Tesla can educate Tesla owners by simple means.