Yes — that’s one plausible explanation, and it still fits the same structural question.

Whether the delay came from optimistic expectations about imminent progress, political or economic incentives, or simple regulatory inertia, the core issue remains the same: the terminology was tolerated for a long period, and that tolerance allowed ambiguity to accumulate.

My point isn’t about defending Tesla or trusting regulators’ judgment — it’s about asking why the shift happened only after years of implicit acceptance, and what effects that delay had on public understanding and responsibility.