Mercedes Pulls E-Class Commercial Touting Self-Driving Tech After Complaints

Mercedes USA is taking a commercial off the air that promotes the new E-Class’ self-driving features.

Earlier this week, a letter was sent to the Federal Trade Commission from the Center for Automotive Safety, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Consumer Reports, urging the body to investigating a Mercedes-Benz E-Class commercial for giving buyers a “false sense of security” when is comes to its self-driving technology.

Now, Mercedes USA has stopped running the commercial according to spokeswoman Donna Boland. “The new 2017 E class is a technological tour de force and is a significant step towards achieving our vision of an accident-free future,” Boland told Automotive News. “We do not want any potential confusion in the marketplace to detract from the giant step forward in vehicle safety the 2017 E class represents.”

SEE ALSO: Ads About ‘Self-Driving’ Mercedes Cars Are Misleading, Safety Groups Say

In the commercial, a narrator says, “Is the world truly ready for a vehicle that can drive itself? Ready or not, the future is here,” while at the same time, the fine print at the bottom of the commercial reads, “Vehicle cannot drive itself, but has automated driving features. The system will remind the driver frequently to keep hands on the steering wheel. Always observe safe driving practices and obey all road traffic regulations.” The spot also shows the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel, leading to the argument that people will believe the car is full self-driving, when it is not.

Scrutiny of self-driving car advertising has been increased recently since a man died in an accident in his Tesla Model S while it was using its Autopilot system. Consumer Reports also accused Tesla of advertising its self-driving features in a disingenuous way.

[Source: Automotive News]

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