Carmakers must stop lying about self-driving. Here's how.

What it does

This bill requires car manufacturers to stop misleading consumers about self-driving capabilities and to clearly disclose what partially automated driving systems (like lane-keeping or adaptive cruise control) can and cannot do. Buyers must receive a detailed notice before purchase explaining the system's features, limitations, and what the driver still needs to do; manufacturers must also notify owners when software updates change the system's performance. The bill gives the FTC, NHTSA, and state attorneys general power to enforce these rules and requires safety labeling on all vehicles with such systems.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to mandate clear disclosure of partially automated driving system capabilities and limitations, with enforcement authority distributed across federal and state regulators. It is fundamentally a consumer-protection and truth-in-advertising measure targeting a high-risk product category.

What the text implies

• The 2-year implementation window for point-of-sale notices may allow manufacturers to continue selling vehicles with minimal disclosure during the transition period, creating a window of reduced transparency.
• Software updates that 'materially affect' performance trigger new notices, but the bill does not define 'material' — manufacturers may dispute whether updates require disclosure, creating enforcement ambiguity.

The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.

Who it affects

Ordinary consumers gain clearer, legally enforceable information about what automated driving features actually do, reducing the risk of misuse and accidents caused by overconfidence in partially automated systems. Enforcement mechanisms (FTC, NHTSA, state AGs) create accountability and deterrence against deceptive marketing.