California Warns Tesla Faces 30-Day Sale Ban For Misleading Use Of "Autopilot"

CBS Bay Area

December 17, 2025

The California DMV on Tuesday said Tesla Motors faces a possible 30-day sale ban over its misleading use of the term "autopilot" in its marketing of electric vehicles.

On Nov. 20, an administrative judge ruled that Tesla Motors' use of "autopilot " and "full self-driving capability" was a misleading description of its "advanced driving assistant features," and that it violated state law, the DMV said.

In their decision, the judge proposed suspending Tesla's manufacturing and dealer license for 30 days. However, the DMV is giving Tesla 60 days to address its use of the term "autopilot" before temporarily suspending its dealer license.

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