The first lawsuit alleging “range inflation” by Tesla has been filed by consumers in California. The plaintiffs in the suit claim that Tesla has been deliberately deceiving customers with inflated range claims made in its advertising and promotional materials. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that Tesla had been misrepresenting the range of its electric vehicles and that its range claims were much higher than the true range numbers when tested in real world conditions.
The lawsuit seeks to force Tesla to change its advertising and promotional materials to more accurately reflect the true range of its electric vehicles. It also seeks refunds or other compensation for any consumers who purchased a Tesla electric vehicle based on the allegedly misleadingly inflated range claims.
Range has traditionally been a major factor in consumer decisions to purchase an electric vehicle. This lawsuit is notable in that it seeks to protect consumers from being misled by Tesla’s range claims. If successful, it could curb Tesla’s use of exaggerated range claims, as well as discourage other companies from engaging in such deceptive practices.
The lawsuit could force Tesla to more accurately reflect the range of its electric vehicles, which could in turn adversely impact sales. While it will likely be some time before the final outcome of the lawsuit is determined, this case could set a valuable precedent that electric vehicle manufacturers should take note of.
