Tesla Renames Driver Assistance System After Germany Objects

    Tesla has renamed its driver assistance system in Europe following an objection from Germany. The software, previously called “Full Self-Driving (Supervised),” will now be known as “Tesla Assisted Driving.” Although the system controls the vehicle in many situations, the driver must constantly watch the road and take the wheel when necessary. The name change could remove one of the obstacles in the approval process.    Germany’s transport minister, Steffen Bilger, called the name “Full Self-Driving” misleading. In his view, the software does not drive the vehicle fully autonomously. The minister spoke with Tesla last month and asked for the name to be changed. Bilger said an EU-wide vote could take place later this year and announced that he would support the system’s approval.    Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long been seeking approval for the system in Europe. He claims the software will improve road safety. Several weeks ago, the Netherlands became the first European country to authorize the “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” system. However, the campaign for approval is alleged to have relied on flawed safety studies. The Netherlands’ vehicle safety authority, RDW, has also faced intense pressure.    Tesla’s software initially focused primarily on keeping the vehicle in its lane and adjusting its speed to the traffic ahead. The system can now enter and exit parking spaces and drive the vehicle on city streets and highways. Some owners use the software for approximately 100 percent of their daily trips. Even when the system is not active, it may intervene in the driver’s control if it detects a risk of collision.    Nevertheless, crashes alleged to have occurred while the “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” system was operating have led to federal investigations and civil lawsuits in the US. The earlier “Autopilot” system, which had more limited capabilities, has been linked to dozens of deaths. Tesla discontinued the “Autopilot” service earlier this year after a court ruled that the system’s capabilities had been deceptively advertised.