South Korea fines Tesla $2.2 million for alleged misleading information
The South Korean antitrust regulator, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), announced that it will be fining Tesla $2.2 million for failing to inform customers about the shortened driving range of its electric vehicles (EVs) in low temperatures, according to a Reuters report.
According to the KFTC, Tesla has been exaggerating the "driving ranges of its cars on a single charge, their fuel cost-effectiveness compared to gasoline vehicles as well as the performance of its Superchargers" on its official local website since August 2019.
It was found that the driving range of Tesla's EVs can decrease by up to 50.5% in cold weather, compared to what is advertised online.
The KFTC also revealed that Tesla provides winter driving tips, such as pre-conditioning vehicles with external power sources and using its updated Energy app to monitor energy consumption, but fails to mention the reduction in driving range in sub-zero temperatures.
This is not the first time that the KFTC has imposed a fine for false advertising.
In 2020, Mercedes-Benz and its Korean unit were fined $17.5 million for false advertising tied to gas emissions of its diesel passenger vehicles.
