FILE PHOTO: A Tesla Model 3 vehicle is shown using the Full Self Driving Beta software while navigating a city road in Encinitas, California, U.S., February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoA U.S. judge on Wednesday rejected Tesla's bid to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Elon Musk's electric car company of misleading owners into believing that their vehicles could soon have self-driving capabilities.
Without ruling on the merits, Lin said that"if Tesla meant to convey that its hardware was sufficient to reach high or full automation, the plainly alleges sufficient falsity."Tesla and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawyers for Tesla vehicle owners did not immediately respond to similar requests.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for people who since 2016 bought or leased Tesla vehicles with Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. Tesla has said Autopilot lets vehicles steer, accelerate and brake in their lanes, and Full Self-Driving lets vehicles obey traffic signals and change lanes.