Misleading?: Tesla under fire over Autopilot name

Pressure is building on Tesla Motors in Europe to stop using the name "Autopilot" to designate its partial self-driving system -- and the concerns could reverberate to the U.S.

The issue is that Tesla's designation can encourage drivers to put too much reliance on Autopilot to protect them from crashing and not pay proper attention behind the wheel. Although Tesla says it repeatedly tells drivers that they need to stay in charge, a Tesla owner was killed in May when his car broadsided a tractor-trailer that turned in front of him. The Autopilot system was engaged at the time.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Germany's Transport Ministry sent a letter to the California-based automaker telling it to stop using the name in advertising. The Associated Press says it confirmed a letter was sent.

Then, Reuters reported that the Dutch Road Traffic Service is asking Tesla to find another name as well. The agency quoted a spokeswoman, Therese de Vroomen, as saying there are concerns the term Autopilot is misleading. The agency had approved the system for use throughout Europe.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced dramatic changes to Autopilot to make it more effective and prevent the kind of fatal accident that occured in Florida. In particular, the system will have a heavier reliance on radar, instead of cameras, to stay in its lane, brake and keep up with the flow of traffic and warn of hazards.

Tesla did not immediately have a response to the reports of concerns in Europe.