According to a Reuters report, troubling allegations surround Tesla, the American electric car manufacturer. Automotive experts have found suspicious range estimates provided by the company to its customers. It also appears that Tesla implemented measures to prevent customers from complaining to customer service about issues.
Recent revelations suggest that Tesla may have deliberately exaggerated its vehicles’ capabilities by manipulating software responsible for estimating range. Customers were enticed by reassuring figures displayed on the dashboard during purchase, but in reality, these figures represented optimistic projections, and actual range was lower once the battery fell below 50%.
Some sources suggest certain Tesla vehicles may have been equipped with a “safety buffer” allowing drivers to travel an extra 24 km as range declined rapidly. These directives may have come from Elon Musk himself.
Additionally, Tesla allegedly created a “Diversion Team” in Las Vegas to manage dissatisfied customers regarding range. Their role was to cancel as many appointments as possible, especially those related to range issues, to prevent service centers from being overwhelmed. Team members were rewarded for each canceled appointment, saving Tesla about $1,000 per cancellation.
If confirmed, these maneuvers raise serious concerns. Deliberately manipulating vehicle range is scandalous, but making it difficult for customers to report and resolve these issues is even more troubling. These actions could be considered deceptive. If proven, it could lead to significant problems for Elon Musk and Tesla. This matter deserves close attention.