Two Democratic senators are calling on the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate Tesla for possibly misleading the public about the company’s self-driving technologies.
“Tesla’s marketing has repeatedly overstated the capabilities of its vehicles, and these statements increasingly pose a threat to motorists and other users of the road,” Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward Markey (D-MA) wrote in a Thursday letter to the FTC.
The letter arrives after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to probe Tesla’s Autopilot system for being involved in 11 car crashes, which led to one death and 17 injuries. However, the regulator is only embarking on a “preliminary evaluation,” and it remains unclear if Tesla will face any potential consequences.
In the meantime, Blumenthal and Markey are concerned Tesla will continue to hype up its self-driving systems, despite past crashes and lingering safety concerns. The senators also note Tesla’s self-driving technologies only result in partial automation, and require the driver to still be at the helm. However, many consumers fail to notice the disclaimers.
“Tesla drivers listen to these claims and believe their vehicles are equipped to drive themselves—with potentially deadly consequences,” the senators wrote. “As Tesla makes widely available its FSD (Full Self Driving) and Autopilot technology and doubles down on its inflated promises, we are alarmed by the prospect of more drivers relying more frequently on systems that do not nearly deliver the expected level of safety.”
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The company recently introduced a “Full Self-Driving Capability” subscription to owners that costs $99 or $199 a month. The system can assist with steering, braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Still, the subscription doesn’t make a Tesla vehicle autonomous. A fully attentive driver still needs to be behind the wheel, as the company’s own website notes.
According to the senators, the FTC should swiftly open an investigation into Tesla over the self-driving claims and “and take appropriate enforcement action to prevent further injury or death as a result of any Tesla feature.”