The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) issued a subpoena to Tesla in relation to its Autopilot and FSD (full self-driving) options, the corporate revealed in an SEC submitting on Monday. The subpoena follows the DoJ’s request for paperwork and extra details about Tesla’s driver help methods earlier this 12 months.

Tesla says it additionally acquired requests for info pertaining to “personal benefits, related parties, vehicle range, and personnel decisions” however didn’t present further particulars. The firm claimed within the filing that, to its information, “no government agency in any ongoing investigation has concluded that any wrongdoing occurred.”

The subpoena means that Tesla didn’t adjust to the DoJ’s paperwork request in January, and Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan enterprise and regulation professor, advised ABC News that the DoJ usually begins with requesting paperwork however will problem a subpoena “if it thinks it isn’t getting full cooperation.”

Tesla acknowledged in its Q3 submitting that the investigation may injury its operations.

“Should the government decide to pursue an enforcement action, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, prospects, cash flows, financial position, or brand,” the submitting mentioned.

Jacob Frenkel, a former SEC enforcement legal professional and former federal prosecutor, advised AP News that Tesla’s recognition that the investigation may injury its popularity means the corporate’s issues over potential penalties may escalate to a federal civil or ciminal motion. “It is reasonable to interpret these disclosures as suggesting an expanded continuing and even potentially more damaging investigation,” Frenkel mentioned.

Tesla mentioned within the submitting that it is usually beneath investigation for alleged misappropriated knowledge stemming from a overseas information outlet report, and as of Aug. 5 is going through a category motion by these affected by the info incident. Other further lawsuits towards Tesla search financial damages or different reduction including that if it doesn’t obtain a positive ruling in these instances, or if different authorized proceedings, dangers, and claims come up, it will additional hinder the corporate’s monetary place.

Tesla launched its FSD software program in 2015 and, as of January 2023, it confronted a number of investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its Autopilot and FSD methods. Tesla discloses on its web site that its FSD autos can’t drive themselves, however the DoJ investigated claims that the automaker prompt the vehicles can drive themselves once they can’t.

The NHTSA began investigating Tesla’s self-driving options after it acquired experiences that the Tesla fashions crashed into emergency autos whereas in autopilot mode, and the U.S. Department of Transportation partially blamed the expertise for the deadly crashes.

Tesla didn’t instantly reply to Gizmodo’s request for remark.