I went looking through the Wayback Machine's archive of that page to see if I could find a version of the text with those exact words. In none of the archives could I find a version; the biggest change to the text is in the description of regulatory status. Prior to ~March 2019, the text here used to read:

> Please note that Self-Driving functionality is dependent upon extensive software validation and regulatory approval, which may vary widely by jurisdiction. It is not possible to know exactly when each element of the functionality described above will be available, as this is highly dependent on local regulatory approval. Please note also that using a self-driving Tesla for car sharing and ride hailing for friends and family is fine, but doing so for revenue purposes will only be permissible on the Tesla Network, details of which will be released next year.

(Hilariously, the "details of which will be released next year" was retained on the page for three years before being dropped.) The current text instead makes it more clear (although not by much) that the actual full-self driving capability of the car doesn't actually exist yet.

While those exact words may not be present in the text, the general whiplash theme of "this car can 100% drive itself!" and "you are totally required to supervise the car at all times, it cannot drive itself" was and is still present.

The revised words were absolutely present until today. Look at HN search, Reddit search - there are dozens of mentions of this with those exact words. There’s also in the linked video.

To Op's point, the most recent snapshot before today of April 5 does not show the quote you're stating:

https://web.archive.org/web/20210405091504/https://www.tesla...

The closest I can find to it is:

"The system is designed to be able to conduct short and long distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat."

I did find what you are referring to, however.

There is a video ( https://vimeo.com/192179726 ) embedded below "Future of Driving" section of the autopilot page. When you hit play the first message presented is:

"The person in the driver's seat is only there for legal reasons. He is not doing anything. The car is driving itself"

That video with that statement is still on the autopilot page as of me writing this.

While a subtle nuance, I believe that wording is specific to the video demonstration ie. "what you are watching is completely automated, but if we filmed it without a person in the seat we would get in trouble" instead of "anyone can run Tesla without a driver, we just < wink wink > tell you to be in the driver's seat for legal reasons."

Thanks. It’s unnerving that such a dangerously misleading statement can persist.