Tesla Avoids Suspension by California Regulator After Corrective Marketing Changes
Feb 17 - Tesla TSLA.O will avoid a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California after the U.S. electric vehicle maker stopped using the term "autopilot" in marketing of its vehicles in the state, a regulator said on Tuesday.The reprieve from the California Department of Motor Vehicles comes as Tesla and other EV makers grapple with a plunge in demand following the expiration of key tax credits that had boosted sales. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has switched the company's focus toward robotaxis equipped with self-driving technology, as well as humanoid robots.In 2022, the DMV accused Tesla of misleading consumers by using names "autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" for its advanced driver-assistance features.The DMV narrowed its focus last December to the term "autopilot" as Tesla revised its use of the term "Full Self-Driving" to clarify that driver supervision is required.The regulator had deferred an order to suspend Tesla sales in California, its biggest U.S. mar