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- Dec 16, 202590% CONFIDENCEfrom the source
California DMV Rules Tesla's Autopilot and FSD Marketing Misleading
- On 16 December 2025 the California DMV adopted an administrative law judge's proposed decision that Tesla's use of 'autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving Capability' to describe its driver-assistance features is misleading and violates state law (case Nos. 21-02188 and 21-02189)[1]
- The judge had ordered 30-day suspensions of both Tesla's manufacturer and dealer licences; the DMV permanently stayed the manufacturer suspension and gave Tesla 60 days to act on 'autopilot', failing which its dealer licence would be suspended for 30 days[1]
- The case turned on marketing from May 2021 saying the system was 'designed to be able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver's seat', although the cars could not and cannot drive themselves[1]
- The DMV filed its accusations in November 2023; the Office of Administrative Hearings heard the case on 21-25 July 2025 and the judge's proposed decision came on 20 November 2025[1]
- The judge wrote that a reasonable consumer would wrongly believe a car with Full Self-Driving Capability could travel safely without a driver's constant attention[4]
- DMV Director Steve Gordon said Tesla 'can take simple steps to pause this decision'; Tesla said not one customer had come forward and that California sales would continue uninterrupted[1][4]
- Tesla shares closed at a record that day[4]
- Tesla met the terms within the window and the DMV lifted the threat of suspension on 17 February 2026[2]
References 489% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 89%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 4 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better
The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.
- [1]90%dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/news-releases/dmv-finds-tesla-violated-california-state-lawdmv.ca.gov· Posted Sep 28, 2026· Starts Dec 16, 2025 ✓· 48% of score
DMV release dated December 16, 2025: 'The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today issued its decision in the Tesla administrative case'.
- [2]95%Tesla Takes Corrective Action to Avoid DMV Suspensiondmv.ca.gov· Published Feb 17, 2026· 20% of score
The DMV's follow-up release restates the 16 December 2025 decision in case Nos. 21-02188 and 21-02189 and announces that Tesla complied, avoiding the suspension.[1]
- [3]75%FSD false advertising case: Tesla must stop lying or it can't sell cars, judge ruleselectrek.co· Published Dec 17, 2025· 16% of score
Reports the ruling 'late Tuesday afternoon' and the 60 days the DMV gave Tesla to fix its marketing before a 30-day suspension, and recounts the DMV's investigation since 2021.[1]
- [4]90%California judge rules that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing around Autopilotcnbc.com· Published Dec 16, 2025· 16% of score
Reports DMV Director Steve Gordon's press conference on Tuesday adopting the judge's order with a modified penalty, quotes the judge that a reasonable consumer would wrongly believe a car with Full Self-Driving Capability needs no constant attention, and Tesla's statement that 'Sales in California will continue uninterrupted.'[1]
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