Italian Competition Authority Investigates BYD, Stellantis, Tesla, VW Over Electric Vehicles Info
Italian Competition Authority Investigates BYD, Stellantis, Tesla, VW Over Electric Vehicles Info
As customary, it was aided by Guardia di Finanza, the country's financial crimes police
The Italian Competition Authority has investigated BYD, Stellantis, Tesla and Volkswagen for allegedly misleading consumers on the performance of their electric vehicles (EVs).
The. Authority stated that the probe was for possible unfair commercial practices concerning information on “EV driving range, battery capacity degradation and limitations on standard battery warranties, potentially in breach of the Consumer Code.”
Under Italian legislation, breaches of consumer rights rules lead to fines from 5,000 euros ($5,230) to 10 million euros.
Meanwhile, Stellantis stated it was cooperating with the authority, providing answers, information and documentation. It said, “We are convinced about providing adequate, precise and exhaustive answers to the questions posed by the officials.”
It added, "Stellantis places the needs and satisfaction of its customers at the centre of all its activities and believes that the ongoing investigation will confirm this."
However, the authority asserted that the websites of the automakers offered ‘generic and sometimes contradictory information’ on electric car driving ranges, without clarifying which factors may impact the advertised maximum range, and to what extent.
The websites claimed that the range of EVs may be significantly reduced by external conditions such as cold weather or the use of air conditioning in hot temperatures and the type of routes traveled.
The Italian watchdog alleged that the websites failed to provide consumers with clear and complete information on battery capacity degradation resulting from normal vehicle uses and on the terms or limitations of the battery warranty.
