USA: Tesla faces fine in the hundreds of millions

Tesla is currently facing a number of angry US customers. They accuse the car company and CEO Elon Musk of deliberately preventing services and spare parts from third-party manufacturers. Corresponding class actions could now lead to serious problems on the part of the electric car manufacturer. Thus a sensitive fine in three-digit millions threatens.

US customers of Tesla are angry

Tesla’s repair policy takes a bit of getting used to and is not without reason controversial on the part of its clientele. Regardless of whether you choose a Model 3, Y, X or S, you have to put up with some annoying restrictions on the part of the manufacturer in the area of repairs and other services. For example, repairs using spare parts from third-party manufacturers are hardly possible, if at all. US customers no longer want to put up with this. Since many of the manufacturer’s vehicles are now on the road in the US, the first customers have already had to deal with maintenance work. And according to the allegations, these are not only associated with long waiting times. On top of that, the U.S. company also charges horrendous prices.

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To combat this and also to allow repairs by third parties, several Tesla owners are taking action against the manufacturer in the context of no less than two class actions. In their basic tenor, these two agree. For example, it should be impossible for owners of a Tesla to use third-party services for maintenance and repairs that are not authorized by the manufacturer. This is according to the company’s repair policy. However, according to one of the lawyers on the plaintiff’s side, this would mean that the company would keep its own ecosystem of now many thousands of electric cars closed. In order to act in a competitive manner, the company would have to show a willingness to compromise not only in the area of services, but also in the area of spare parts, and would also have to allow third parties.

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Now facing hefty fine

So far, the globally successful e-car manufacturer has not commented on the allegations. However, given the large shadow cast by the two class action lawsuits ahead, the company under the leadership of Elon Musk must come up with good arguments. After all, Tesla faces a historic fine in the event of defeat. The class action lawsuit indicates that it could be several hundred million US dollars. The sum is made up of all plaintiffs and their repair as well as maintenance costs that they have had to spend since 2019 because they are tied to the electric carmaker. This is the first time Tesla has faced accusations of violating the so-called “Right to Repair”.

This provides that it is a violation of antitrust law if the use of third-party services for maintenance and repair is simply blocked. In addition to damages, the plaintiffs are also demanding a rewording of the manufacturer’s repair policy. The structures in the area of repairs, which are reminiscent of a monopoly, must be dismantled. Furthermore, it is essential that, in addition to tools for diagnostics, appropriate manuals for repairs are also released. We are curious to see whether Tesla will give in or accept the fine. However, the risk of another lawsuit could then be too high.