Italy accuses EV makers of deceiving customers

The Italian government has launched an investigation against BYD, Stellantis, Tesla and Volkswagen, alleging that the four automakers lied about the actual capabilities of their electric cars.

The accusation holds that the companies provided misleading electric range estimations, and didn’t fully disclose how fast the traction batteries would degrade. They also allegedly didn’t provide a clear explanation of which EV issues were covered under warranty and which weren’t. AGCM, the local antimonopoly committee, believes that EV manufacturers deliberately misrepresent cars and their capabilities in their advertisements.

The investigation receives assistance from the Italian financial police. Should any of the allegations prove factual, the four automakers will be facing large fines.