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Tesla Can Still Sell Cars in California After 'Autopilot' Language Change

The EV manufacturer avoided a 30-day suspension after an ongoing dispute with the state's DMV.

The front of a Tesla Model 3 Standard driving along a road

Tesla won't have to face a suspension of sales in California over the marketing of some of its driving features. 

Tesla

Tesla won't have its sales interrupted in California after altering its marketing materials to remove references to "Autopilot" to describe its Advanced Driver Assistance System features. 

In December, the California DMV gave Tesla 60 days to address a complaint that the company's use of "Autopilot" to describe the feature was misleading. Failing to do so, the DMV warned, would have resulted in a 30-day suspension of Tesla's dealer license to sell vehicles in the state. The DMV complaints go back to 2022, when it said that the company's use of the term "Autopilot" is misleading and illegal. 

A representative for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The DMV's decision to remove the threat of suspension should be permanent, according to a DMV press release. "The department is pleased that Tesla took the required action to remain in compliance with the State of California's consumer protections," the department's director Steve Gordon said. 

Tesla recently raised the price of its Full Self-Driving feature to $10,000, an increase of $2,000. 

Article updated on February 18, 2026 at 8:25 AM PST

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Written by  Omar Gallaga
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