Tesla fined $2.2 million for ‘exaggerated’ advertising

According to the Yonhap report, the South Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has decided that the information provided in the advertisements published by Tesla in August 2019 regarding vehicle charging speed, range, and fuel consumption fuel is “exaggerated”.

Noting that the statements in the ad can only be “possible” for the distance the vehicle has driven in the city and at average temperatures, the FTC noted that the distance driven under different conditions is shorter.

It was also noted that advertising data on Tesla’s superchargers that could charge cars “enough to go miles” in 15 or 30 minutes could be provided “under the best of circumstances” but not under normal conditions.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Tesla changed its advertising on the company’s South Korean website following an FTC investigation in February last year.

In addition, the FTC reported that Tesla will impose an additional 1 million won in South Korean currency for violating the Electronic Commerce Act for failing to provide sufficient information to consumers about product cancellations.

FTC data showed that Tesla had a 43.3 percent share of the South Korean electric vehicle market in the first half of 2020.