Tesla has renamed its advanced driver assistance system in Europe following concerns from Germany’s transport ministry that its previous name, Full Self Driving (Supervised), could mislead consumers about the technology’s capabilities.

The system will now be marketed as Tesla Assisted Driving. The change represents a significant adjustment for the electric vehicle manufacturer, which has used the Full Self Driving name for years despite requiring drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary.

Germany’s Transport Minister, Steffen Bilger, previously expressed concerns that the original name suggested the software could perform the entire driving task independently.

According to the ministry, Tesla proposed the name change following discussions with German officials.

Bilger has indicated that he will support efforts to secure approval for Tesla Assisted Driving across Europe ahead of a potential European Union wide vote later this year. Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has also welcomed the development.

Musk has spent years campaigning for regulatory approval of the technology in Europe, arguing that it could improve road safety for vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists.

The Netherlands became the first European country to approve Full Self Driving (Supervised) in March.

However, questions remain about the safety evidence supporting the system, with reports raising concerns about the studies used to secure regulatory approval and the pressure allegedly faced by Dutch vehicle safety authorities during the approval process.

Tesla’s driver assistance technology has advanced considerably, offering features that include navigating streets and highways, changing driving behaviour according to road conditions, and moving vehicles into and out of parking spaces.

The company has also introduced a feature designed to intervene in a driver’s control of the vehicle when the system detects a potential collision, even when the driver assistance software is not actively engaged.

Nevertheless, the technology continues to require human supervision and has faced scrutiny over crashes in which it was allegedly being used.
The renaming comes amid continuing regulatory and legal challenges surrounding Tesla’s driver assistance systems.

The company’s software has been the subject of federal investigations and civil lawsuits relating to crashes, while its earlier Autopilot system has been associated with numerous fatal incidents.

Tesla discontinued Autopilot earlier this year following a judicial ruling that found the company had engaged in deceptive marketing concerning the system’s capabilities.

The latest name change could help Tesla address regulatory concerns and strengthen its prospects for expanding the system’s availability across Europe.

Source: TechCrunch