Antitrusta starts investigation on Byd, Stellantis, Tesla and Volkswagen for incorrect information on electric cars

The Competition and Market Authority has launched four investigations against Byd Industria Italia, Stellantis Europe SpA., Tesla Italy and Volkswagen Group Italy Spa for possible incorrect commercial practices. The investigations concern the information provided to consumers on kilometer travel autonomy of electric vehicles, on Battery capacity loss and on the information relating to limitations of operability of the conventional guarantee on batteries, in possible violation of the consumer code.

In particular, the operators, on the relative websites, would have provided generic information – and sometimes contradictory – on the mileage autonomy of the electric vehicles marketed, without clarifying what the factors that affect the mileage Maximus advertised and how much this incidence is on the actual mileage.

In addition, the operators, always on their websites, would not have indicated to the consumer in a clear and complete way the information on the loss of the capacity of the batteries that derives from the normal use of the cars, nor the conditions/limitations applied to the conventional guarantee on the batteries. The officials of the Authority have carried out ainspection at the locations of the companies interested in the help of the special antitrust nucleus of the Guardia di Finanza.

Stellantis, provided the necessary documentation

Stellantis Europe confirms that “having fully collaborated yesterday with the staff of the Competition and Market Authority, present in Turin together with the staff of the Special antitrust nucleus of the Guardia di Finanza, And to have provided the answers, information and documents necessary regarding the subject of the investigation. ” Stellantis Europe “is convinced that he has provided adequate, precise and exhaustive answers to the questions asked by the officials present in Turin and will continue to collaborate to deepen any further relevant aspect relating to the subject of the investigation”.

Stellantis, ends, “places the needs and satisfaction of its customers at the center of all its activities and believes that the ongoing investigation will be able to confirm this circumstance”.

National Consumer Union, clarifying immediately

“Well, you immediately clarify. Thekilometer travel autonomy which is indicated to consumers must be real, as well as the charging times, which vary very much according to the power of the charging infrastructure “. Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumer Union regarding the start of the investigations from part of the antitrust.
“Furthermore, even if there have been many improvements in recent years, the drums – he continues – after a number of charging cycles It has a loss of ability that affects autonomy. Of all this, the consumer must be correctly informed before the purchase, otherwise his economic behavior is unduly conditioned “.

Federcarrozzieri, in terms of performance we are at the Far West

“On the subject of the performance of electric cars, there has been a real Far West for some time – says President Davide Galli – if before they were the consumption of thermal engines (petrol and diesel) declared by the car manufacturers to be subject to doubts because they are often not true, today it is the performance of the batteries that generate more than a suspicion. This is because the various brands tend to enhance the killed km with a charging However, without specifying that there are a myriad of factors that can affect the autonomy of electric cars, reducing it significantly. For this reason, a third official and independent third authority is needed which certainly certifies the real performance of the cars “.

“Little transparency also on the limits to the guarantee of batteries – adds Galli – On average, car manufacturers offer guarantees on 8 -year batteries or 160,000 kilometers but by imposing absurd constraints to motorists, such as the obligation to perform periodic maintenance at the workshops of the manufacturer’s network, where the coupons are more expensive than the average of the other trucks, under penalty of the forfeiture of the guarantee “.