Tesla has to pay up for throttling the charging speed

Tesla has been ordered to pay compensation in Norway because the company reduced the charging speed of the Model S via a software update in 2019. The bill could still get even higher.

The Borgarting Court of Appeal has now ordered Tesla Norway to grant four Tesla owners discounts of 50,000 Norwegian kroner (approx. 4,300 euros) each. While this is more of a symbolic sum, the ruling could positively impact many others. A total of 118 of them demanded discounts and compensation from Tesla Norway after the charging speed was reduced. Moreover, everyone else who bought a Tesla in Norway during that period could receive compensation.

The battle before the courts dragged on for almost four years. That is bad news for Tesla because, in addition to its own legal expenses, it must also cover those of the four Tesla owners – which amount to 4.8 million NOK (around 409,000 euros).

Tesla had reduced the charging speed via an over-the-air update claiming that it would extend the life of the battery pack and increase safety. However, the Borgarting Court of Appeal argues that Tesla’s charging speed is one of the EV’s “central features,” which is why throttling it after purchase is unacceptable.

motor.no (in Norwegian)