The State of California, Bans Ads with the Theme Full Self-Driving for Electric Cars

Tesla can't advertise full-sleft driving cars in California. (photo: Twitter @tesla)

JAKARTA - Tesla will now no longer be able to advertise its cars as Full Self-Driving starting next year under a new California law.

Senate Bill 1398 was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsome and targets the marketing of electric carmakers' software features in some models that imply that cars can be fully self-driving, when they cannot.

Elon Musk's company lobbied for the bill, arguing that it already made customers aware of the limitations of the technology.

Tesla owners in the US will have to pay an extra $15,000 for the full self-driving software and are required to have a minimum safety score of 80. However, Musk recently announced that anyone in North America can now request the FSD software.

Drivers are also told that regardless of the capabilities of the software, they must always keep their eyes on the road and be ready to take the wheel at any moment.

The newly passed bill will prevent any manufacturer or dealer from "deliberately deceptively naming or marketing" a self-driving feature.

The text of the bill states that the law will 'require dealers or manufacturers who sell new passenger vehicles equipped with partial driving automation features' or who offer 'any software update or vehicle upgrade that adds partial driving automation features, to provide a consumer notice to the buyer. or the owner explaining the functionality and limitations of the feature.'

Tesla himself did not want to comment on this report when contacted by the Daily Mail.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles also already has rules against false advertising about self-driving cars, but the bill's sponsors say the agency's lack of enforcement prompted legislators to act.

"This bill improves consumer safety by requiring dealers and manufacturers selling new passenger vehicles equipped with semi-autonomous driving assistance features... to provide a clear picture of the functions and limitations of these features," said Democratic Party State Senator, Lena Gonzalez, from Long Beach in a statement as the bill passed the Legislature.

In July, Tesla revealed that a total of 35 million autonomous miles had been driven by its products since the full self-driving beta launched in 2020 - and that number is definitely higher now. The software, powered by artificial intelligence and multiple cameras, was currently in use by more than 100,000 owners in North America.

Meanwhile, a Tesla driver blamed self-driving technology for the eight-car pileup that occurred on San Francisco's Bay Bridge on Thanksgiving.

The accident resulted in two people being rushed to hospital and 16 others being treated at the scene for injuries. None of them are life-threatening.

The video of the incident shows a fully self-driving Tesla car changing lanes and stopping in the middle of the road, causing a traffic jam that kept the road stalled for hours.

According to the traffic accident report, the driver of the Tesla Model S told the California Highway Patrol that they had been traveling about 55 mph and shifted into the left lane when the car's self-driving technology suddenly chose to apply the brakes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla's driver assistance program over several reports of braking occurring randomly or without warning. NHTSA also opened its investigation after 16 accidents involving Teslas.

Musk's company has long stated that its autonomous software is a work in progress and that its vehicles are, by and large, still safer than its competitors.

Tesla is on track to have its worst year yet. Its share price has fallen 70% over the last 13 months and investors seem to be tired of Musk's constant Twitter mess since his buyout from the social network.

Tesla's share price hit an all-time high of more than $414 in November 2021. It has since plunged 70 percent to $123.15 on Friday with the stock down another 1 percent.

The company has since lost nearly two-thirds of its value, as rival automakers cut Tesla's dominant share of electric vehicle sales.