"Self-Driving" Means Self-Driving

Abstract

Tesla uses the name "Full Self-Driving" to market a driver assistance system that still requires its user to pay attention to the road. And yet, as this article documents, there is a broad consensus among developers and regulators of motor vehicle technologies, including Tesla itself, that the term "self-driving" correctly refers only to a system whose user does not need to pay attention. This conclusion is foundational to multiple ongoing legal proceedings around the world.

Keywords: automated driving, driverless, driver assistance, Tesla, Full Self-Driving, self-driving, robotaxi, false advertising, misleading marketing, deceptive marketing, truth in advertising, FTC Act, Lanham Act, J3016, autonomous driving