The California Department of Motor Vehicles is investigating Tesla over CEO Elon Musk’s claims about the automaking company’s Full Self-Driving technology (FSD), the LA Times reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It comes less than a week after Tesla engineers privately told the DMV that their CEO had exaggerated the capabilities of the FSD system on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FSD is a $10,000 option for Tesla cars and promises to be fully autonomous as a self-driving car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Autopilot software director CJ Moore, Tesla cars currently have Level 2 autonomy, meaning they still have limited autonomy on a 5-step scale, with L5 being the highest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DMV has the power to punish any car company that misleads its customers through false advertising under the Lanham Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such penalties could include suspension or revocation of Tesla’s vehicle use permits and its manufacturing and dealer licenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For drivers, a revocation would mean that their cars can be removed from a public road by the authorities if the FSD feature is activated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesla is facing a long list of lawsuits over its self-driving systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is currently embroiled in nearly two dozen NHTSA investigations, and the FTC is investigating allegations against the company for fraudulent marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n