The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is examining Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s role in influencing the company’s statements regarding its “self-driving” cars.
According to sources, this review is part of a broader investigation into Tesla’s claims about its Autopilot driver assistance system. The accuracy of Musk’s communications on this topic is particularly significant under the SEC’s regulations.
SEC officials are investigating whether Musk may have made “inappropriate forward-looking statements” about self-driving cars.
It remains uncertain what actions the SEC might take if it determines that such statements were made.
While the Tesla website advises drivers to “keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times” before activating Autopilot, a video on the Tesla Autopilot website shows a driver with their hands in their lap.
A message in the video states that the “person in the driver’s seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself.”
It was also reported last week that Musk was significantly involved in producing a 2016 video that “may have exaggerated the technology’s capabilities.”
In 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into the Tesla Autopilot system, focusing on crashes that occurred while the system was active. This investigation is still ongoing.
