Tesla has been facing a lot of problems in multiple countries lately. This time Tesla from South Korea has made it to the news.
Antitrust regulators in South Korea are investigating the electric carmaker for allegations that it exaggerated how far its cars can drive on a single charge. If these allegations are proved to be true, Tesla could be in violation of the country’s Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising.
“We plan to hold a meeting to decide the level of sanctions against the automaker,” a Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) official told Reuters.
Tesla claims that its Model 3 has an estimated range of 358 miles on a single charge. This claim is vividly advertised on their website. However, the KFTC says that cold temperatures can bring that range down dramatically, which would mean that it is false advertising.
However, it is true that cold weather can have an impact on how long electric cars can hold a charge as well as how long it takes to charge them. This was stated in a report from electric car battery research firm Recurrent due to how low temperatures slow down the chemical reactions in battery cells.
If the KFTC finds Tesla guilty, Tesla will have to face the music. Earlier this month, the company was sued by a former employee who claims she suffered rampant racism and “painful abuses reminiscent of the Jim Crow era“ while working there.