Tesla has been hit with a compensation order in Norway, as a court of appeal orders the EV maker to pay 50,000 Norwegian kroner C$1,931/US$1,428) each to four of its customers for manipulating charging speeds.
The case stemmed from a 2019 software update that some Model S owners alleged throttled charging speeds.
The Borgarting Court of Appeal in Norway has ordered Tesla to pay 50,000 kroner to four Model S owners. The company landed in legal trouble after a 2019 software update reduced the performance car’s charging speed. (via Motor.no)
The total sum paid out by Tesla could rise as there are 118 aggrieved owners. Other Model S owners who received the update could also be potential receivers of the compensation.
Apart from the actual compensation, Tesla is also liable for the plaintiffs’ legal costs, which adds another 400,000 euros (C$603,000/US$447,000).
Tesla is not disputing the plaintiff’s claims in the lawsuit, which has been going on for about four years. However, it insists the throttling was meant to preserve the Model S’ battery health and improve safety.
However, the court of appeal was of the opinion that Tesla crossed the line because it had explicitly advertised the EV’s charging speed.
Norway remains a crucial market for Tesla in Europe. The Model Y accounted for 19% of all new vehicle sales in August in the Scandinavian nation.
