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The US Department of Justice has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into Tesla and its boasts about its self-driving car technology.to Reuters. The investigation kicked off, we're told, after a series of prangs in which Teslas in Autopilot mode collided with other cars or emergency vehicles.
The automaker's top dog Elon Musk is well known for making grandiose public statements about his company's self-driving technology, claiming his vehicles will reach Level 5 autonomy soon – meaning they can completely and independently drive themselves – and even named Tesla's latest feature set"Full Self-Driving." Tesla also uses the brand name Autopilot for its autonomous capabilities.
In reality, however, Tesla vehicles are graded Level 2, meaning they can perform some automated functions, such as steering, accelerating or braking. When out on the road, drivers must have their hands on the wheel at all times, and be prepared to take over at any point. Tesla's tech is a super cruise control, and not full self-driving.
Prosecutors in Washington DC and San Francisco are reportedly looking into whether Tesla has misled consumers, investors, and regulators with false advertising about its computer-controlled car tech. There is a fear that buyers and shareholders hear product names like Full Self-Driving ad Autopilot, and Musk bragging about their capabilities, and wrongly believe the cars truly can totally and safely drive themselves.
If officials decide to prosecute the company, it may have to cough up criminal damages, face sanctions, or both, if convicted or reaches a deal. The investigation was launched last year, and it's not clear how much progress has been made in reaching a decision, it's said.
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