South Korea fines Tesla $2.2 million for exaggerating driving vary of EVs By Reuters
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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A Tesla brand is seen on a wheel rim throughout the media day for the Shanghai auto present in Shanghai, China April 16, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Music
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s antitrust regulator mentioned it will impose a 2.85 billion received ($2.2 million) positive on Tesla (NASDAQ:) Inc for failing to inform its clients concerning the shorter driving vary of its electrical autos (EVs) in low temperatures.
The Korea Truthful Commerce Fee (KFTC) mentioned that Tesla had exaggerated the “driving ranges of its vehicles on a single cost, their gas cost-effectiveness in comparison with gasoline autos in addition to the efficiency of its Superchargers” on its official native web site since August 2019 till just lately.
The driving vary of the U.S. EV producer’s vehicles plunge in chilly climate by as much as 50.5% versus how they’re marketed on-line, the KFTC mentioned in a press release on Tuesday.
Tesla couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
On its web site, Tesla offers winter driving ideas, comparable to pre-conditioning autos with exterior energy sources, and utilizing its up to date Vitality app to watch power consumption, however doesn’t point out the lack of driving vary in sub-zero temperatures.
In 2021, Residents United for Shopper Sovereignty, a South Korean shopper group, mentioned the driving vary of most EVs drop by as much as 40% in chilly temperatures when batteries must be heated, with Tesla struggling probably the most, citing information from the nation’s setting ministry.
Final yr, the KFTC fined German carmaker Mercedes-Benz and its Korean unit 20.2 billion received for false promoting tied to gasoline emissions of its diesel passenger autos.
