Tesla Self-Driving Features Under Justice Dept Investigation

The US Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Tesla’s driver-assistance features, according to a financial document released Tuesday.

The filing comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues to investigate Tesla’s “Autopilot” system.

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“The company has received requests from the DOJ for documents related to Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD (full self-driving) features,” according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly promised that a fully autonomous vehicle is on the horizon, but his vehicles still only offer “driving assistance” – which assists drivers in changing lanes or identifying stop signs – rather than full autonomy, which would allow drivers to look away from the road.

The company did not specify what the requests were, but according to media reports, the department is investigating whether Tesla’s claims about the reliability of its driver assistance systems may mislead drivers.

Tesla Self-Driving Features Under Justice Dept Investigation. Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capability options, according to the company’s website, “require a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.”

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However, in 2021, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy told CNBC that the term “full self-driving” is “misleading.” In addition, the California Department of Motor Vehicles filed a complaint against the company last year for using advertising language that could make its products appear more capable than they are.

According to Bloomberg, the Justice Department has opened an investigation for similar reasons.

The NHTSA’s investigation includes investigations into several safety incidents involving driver assistance systems.

“To the best of our knowledge, no government agency in any ongoing investigation has concluded that any wrongdoing occurred,” Tesla stated in a filing on Tuesday.

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