Tesla must face vehicle owners' lawsuit over self-driving claims

FILE PHOTO: A Tesla Model 3 vehicle is shown using the Full Self Driving Beta software (FSD) while navigating a city road in Encinitas, California, U.S., February 28, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

(Reuters) - A 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.

The proposed nationwide class action accused Tesla and Musk of having since 2016 falsely advertised Autopilot and other self-driving technology as functional or "just around the corner," inducing drivers to pay more for their vehicles.