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Courier-Mail
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Tesla Motors Australia appeals tribunal order after owner wins case over fault model S.
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring. Followed categories will be added to My News. Exclusive A NSW mum-of-three who won a tribunal hearing that ordered Tesla to replace her $93,000 Model S 'lemon' is still waiting for the vehicle after the electric car giant lodged a last-minute appeal. Anne Bishop, who is a passionate electric vehicle (EV) supporter, took the car manufacturer to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) in September 2024 alleging the 2015 model car she bought through their Tesla Certified Pre-Owned program in 2018 was riddled with faults. The Tribunal instructed Tesla to refund $6649.79 in repair costs and to supply the customer with a replacement vehicle of similar value and type. Tesla lodged a last-minute appeal against the ruling. The appeal is set to be heard on the 14th August 2025. MORE:Australia's brutal reaction to EVs X MORE:Staggering loss proves Cybertruck is dead 'When I bought this car, it was intended to be a once in a lifetime extravagance, a purchase designed to safeguard our growing family on the roads at a time when this was most important, and with the intention to keep the car for at least 20 years,' Ms Bishop told 'In February of last year, when the car broke down so comprehensively and inconveniently, two months out of warranty, all I expected was for Tesla to honour their word and pay for the repairs,' the NSW mother said. After experiencing more than a dozen major failures in the Model S, Ms Bishop escalated her complaints through to the Tesla Owners Club of Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and NSW Fair Trading. But with no result, she turned to the NCAT. MORE:Musk's bombshell announcement, Tesla sinks NSW mother Anne Bishop with her $93,000 Tesla Model S. Picture: Supplied MORE:'Pure evil': New Tesla scandal erupts in US At the hearing, Ms Bishop sought reimbursement for her $8,500 repair costs (from a total of $17,000), a partial refund, or ideally a replacement vehicle. Over five and a half years of ownership, Ms Bishop said she experienced breakdowns of the car's media unit, battery failures, door handle malfunctions and, most recently, a rear drive motor failure. In her complaint, Ms Bishop explained that comments made by Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk 'regarding the longevity, durability and quality of engineering and manufacturing in Tesla cars' prompted her to purchase the car. Ms Bishop sourced independent expert opinion as evidence for the NCAT. MORE:Musk, Tesla smashed by China 'military' ban 'I intend to never purchase another Tesla product again.' Picture: Supplied MORE:China hammers another nail in Tesla's coffin In a comment made outside of court, two automotive experts advised Ms Bishop that the car sold to her by Tesla was a 'lemon'. Both experts stated it was unreliable and unacceptable quality but most importantly unsafe to drive. 'It didn't seem unreasonable to expect a car I was paying close to six figures for, 'certified pre owned' from the manufacturer, that had originally sold for $165,000 and with the kind of promises made by Tesla's CEO, to comfortably exceed the durability of an entry-level car originally worth 1/10th of that price,' Ms Bishop said. In its ruling, the tribunal found Ms Bishop's vehicle had suffered a 'succession of issues affecting essential components', concluding that a reasonable consumer would not have purchased the car had they known of its condition. Elon Musk said Tesla 'won't forget' early adopters who 'took a risk'. Picture: Jim WATSON / AFP NCAT determined that the issues constituted a 'major failure' under Australia Consumer Law. 'The bottom line is that the applicant is left with a Vehicle which has, over the period of ownership, been unreliable and has suffered an ongoing series of faults to expensive components,' NCAT said in its ruling. Ms Bishop said she initially felt 'tremendously relieved that this entire nightmare' was finally over. 'I also felt justified in seeing the matter through, not only due to financial necessity, but also by now as a matter of principle and to set a precedent for other Tesla owners dissatisfied with poor quality and poor service.' Ms Bishop said. Tesla argued that repairs were conducted under warranty where possible and noted that some failures occurred after warranty expiration. The Tesla S 2019 was very popular in Australia. However, NCAT found that the list of issues justified a solution beyond warranty terms under consumer guarantee rights. At the hearing, Ms Bishop, who has remained supportive of electric vehicles, indicated that she preferred a replacement vehicle rather than a full refund. Tesla was ordered to replace the vehicle but the auto giant lodged a last-minute appeal. 'When several weeks had passed with no word from Tesla after receiving the order from NCAT, I emailed them, in the hopes of negotiating the details necessary to finalise the matter in accordance with the order,' Ms Bishop said. 'I never received the courtesy of a response, but a week later a law firm filed a Notice of Appeal with NCAT.' The matter remains unresolved. Tesla Australia did not respond to requests for comment. Originally published as Exclusive: Tesla escalates battle after tribunal order
CBC
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
London police investigate "suspicious" Tesla fire in mall parking lot
A Tesla vehicle fire in a London, Ont., parking lot on Monday night is being investigated as suspicious, London police announced Wednesday afternoon. Police say the fire happened at 11:30 p.m., on Mar. 17, and the vehicle was a 2025 4-door Tesla Model S. It was parked in the parking lot of CF Masonville Place, a mall in the city's north end. There were no injuries reported in connection to the fire. Tesla vehicle fire in north London parking lot deemed suspicious 30 minutes ago Duration 0:11 The vehicle sustained significant damage, with police estimating a cost of $140,000. Although the circumstances surrounding the fire are still unknown, Tesla vehicles and dealerships have been the target of increasing instances of vandalism, protest and destruction in recent weeks, both in Canada and the United States. On Wednesday, a Montreal Tesla dealership was vandalized by activists who covered its front entrance in paint. One day prior, the Vancouver International Auto Show announced the removal of Tesla from the show, vaguely citing safety concerns as a reason. Acts of vandalism against the electric vehicle manufacturer have multiplied since U.S. President Donald Trump took office and appointed Musk, considered the world's richest man, to oversee the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been slashing government spending and programs. CBC News has reached out to Tesla for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication. Cadillac Fairview, the mall's owner, directed all questions to London police. London police are asking the public for their help in the investigation, specifically through sharing dash-cam, residential or business surveillance camera footage.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tested: 2025 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance Is Always Fully Loaded
From the May/June issue of Car and Driver. Spend some time in one of America's high-rent districts, and you'll see plenty of Mercedes vehicles sporting AMG badges. Some are genuine AMG models; others may wear an AMG trim package. Their presence is symptomatic of well-heeled shoppers reflexively buying "loaded" vehicles even when the expensive performance features offer no benefit to their driving lives. Luxury automakers happily encourage this thinking. As cynical as this may sound, there is no doubt that the full-on AMG models, such as the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance, deliver genuine speed and thrills. In this full-size sedan's case, that starts with 791 total horsepower thanks to a 603-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 paired with a nine-speed automatic, plus a 188-hp electric motor coupled to the rear axle through its own two-speed gearbox. Total system torque is a massive 1055 pound-feet sent to all four wheels. This is enough thrust to hurl the 5877-pound, 210.1-inch-long sedan to 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds at 129 mph. Floor the accelerator at 50 mph, and the speedometer blows through the century mark in seemingly no time, while you're shoved hard into your seat. In Sport+ mode, the ordinarily crisp shifts are even firmer, and the energized exhaust channels a slightly muffled NASCAR stocker. The only way to get a big sedan capable of greater thrust is with a high-end Lucid Air, Porsche Taycan, or Tesla Model S. While those EVs as well as the S63 must be in their highest performance modes to deliver maximum acceleration, the EVs are notably more responsive in their lesser modes. That's because when the S63 is in Comfort mode, its V-8 turns off at a stop. When it begins moving again, it does so on electric power alone. That works fine in gentle driving, but if you demand more acceleration, the gas engine has to fire up and build boost before the car surges vigorously. The S63 perks up considerably in Sport and Sport+. And there's plenty of electric assist from the 10.4-kWh battery, which is large enough to motivate the S63 by electrons alone, albeit only for an EPA-estimated 16 miles. Once that battery is depleted, the car operates as a typical hybrid, occasionally shutting off the engine to maximize efficiency, even on the highway. If the throttle response is a bit wanting, the S63's chassis fully lives up to its AMG billing. The steering is nicely weighted and provides sharp directional responses. Thanks to virtually imperceptible help from the rear axle, the car feels smaller than it is. The S63's Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires cling to the skidpad at 0.96 g, and the sedan dives into corners eagerly on back roads yet also provides great on-center stability on the highway. Brake feel is also decent, though pedal effort could be higher. Equipped with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes ($8950) on the front axle, the S63 stops from 70 mph in an impressive 161 feet and from 100 mph in 330. This chassis responsiveness does not come at the expense of comfort, as the S63's well- controlled ride is never harsh. Even when the suspension tightens in Sport and Sport+, the car rides reasonably well. It is an S-class, after all, although you feel and hear tar strips and pavement slabs more than in its less aggressive brethren. Befitting an S-class, the cabin is large and sumptuous. The front seats are supremely comfortable—once we disabled the active inflatable side bolsters that irritatingly pressed into our ribs at every hint of a corner. The cavernous rear compartment is elaborately tailored and in our S63 had options totaling $11,000. These included highly adjustable individual rear seats with separate video screens, climate controls, and foldout trays. The right one even has a power-folding leg rest. A private jet could do worse than these seats. Such a fancy rear cabin seems a bit odd for an AMG model that is presumably driver-focused. And it's also slightly mismatched with only 11 cubic feet of cargo space. But this yin and yang of explosive performance and maximum luxury does support the "loaded" mindset. This S63 E Performance's $187,350 starting price inflated to $229,400 with options. Pretty loaded, we'd say. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Plans to Double U.S. Production Amid Market Challenges
CEO Elon Musk said on his social networking platform, X, that Tesla (TSLA, Financials) intends to double its car manufacturing in the United States over the next two years. The choice presents a set of difficulties for the creator of electric cars, including diminishing worldwide sales and a dramatic decline in stock value. Musk presented the development as evidence of American economic confidence and pointed out that the action fits the policies of President Donald the start of the year, Tesla's stock has dropped around 43%; its worst single-day performance since September 2020 came on Monday with a 15% drop. Slowing demand has been a challenge for the corporation, especially in China and Europe, important markets for its electric cars. Particularly underperforming versus local rivals, sales of China-made Tesla cars fell 49.2% year over year in February. The corporation also revealed a 1.1% dip in world sales in 2024, the first yearly loss in more than ten the middle of these challenges, Trump openly supported Musk and Tesla, therefore endorsing the carmaker. Confident in the business, the former presidentwho has positioned himself as an advocate of American manufacturing bought a Tesla Model S. Trump called Musk a "great patriot" and denounced attempts at a boycott of Tesla as has tightened his links to the Trump government after becoming more outspoken on political and economic issues. Currently Director of the Department of Government Efficiency, he sees himself as an advocate for operational and regulatory improvements. His most recent declaration on production expansion emphasizes even more his congruence with the goals of the government, especially in terms of supporting home industry and economic development. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Chicago Tribune
Hundreds protest Musk at Libertyville Tesla dealership: ‘What Elon has done to the brand is just make it feel dirty'
Hundreds of anti-Elon Musk and Donald Trump protesters gathered along Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville Saturday, criticizing the new administration and the outsized influence the world's richest man has had on the federal government and joining a wave of similar protests across the country. Musk is seemingly the functional leader of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency and has become a focal point of criticism as DOGE cuts federal staff and contracts. 'Elon Musk paid to own Donald Trump, who promised to bring down prices on day one, and now people are paying even more,' said Lauren Beth Gash, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, who was helping run the protest. During Saturday's protest, a small group of conservative counter-protesters were stationed just a dozen yards away, and the two groups traded barbs and insults. The word 'traitor' was thrown back and forth. In the background of the politically charged confrontation was the Libertyville Tesla dealership. Tesla dealerships have been the site of anti-Musk protests across the country in recent weeks, and while at the Lake County protest organizers said their criticisms were not directed towards the electric vehicle manufacturer, the dealerships provide an obvious and convenient gathering point to criticize the billionaire, who leads the company and is its single largest individual shareholder. Caught in the crossfire The brand's connection to Musk has grown increasingly 'problematic,' according to Jacqueline Babb, senior lecturer of integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University, as well as a lesson in the importance of distancing a product from an individual. Babb is a Tesla owner herself, and considers it a 'phenomenal' product. 'But I do have concerns about the type of message that I send by driving it,' she said. 'As consumers, we surround ourselves with consumer brands, and they tell a story of who we are and how we're seen in the world. Your car does tell a story about who you are.' When brands 'become synonymous with a person,' like with Tesla, Babb said, it 'becomes less about the product' and 'more about this person.' In this case, a 'potentially polarizing' one. Babb was reminded of the case of Lance Armstrong and the nonprofit Livestrong Foundation. The renowned cyclist saw his public persona destroyed by a doping scandal, and the nonprofit was a casualty of the fallout. 'They ultimately had a reputation crisis on their hands because of their founder,' she said. While it isn't yet clear if criticisms of Musk will translate to significant drops in Tesla sales in 2025, for some Illinois car owners at least Tesla's public association with Musk has become too much. That includes Highland Park resident Theresa Niland, a former Tesla owner who even served two years as a board member of the Tesla Owners Club of Chicago. Niland first heard about Musk and Tesla in 2012 when she saw a Tesla Model S. It was 'beautiful,' she said, calling it her 'dream car.' She admired Musk's work at the time as well, Niland said, and would finally buy a used Tesla in 2020. She loved getting away from gas and oil and Tesla's advanced technological features, many of which she still can't find in any other car. Still, in December, Niland sold it for two primary reasons. 'There was nothing wrong with it when I sold it, but I lost confidence in Tesla,' she said, recounting her issues trying to get it serviced. 'It was almost as though Elon no longer cared about the car company … he was on to something different.' She had also begun to experience some of the public backlash to Musk's growing public presence. 'When I was out to dinner, someone had written in the ice a slur across the back window,' Niland said. 'I was yelled at as I was driving. You just feel like a pariah. You also feel like, 'What am I saying when I drive this car?'' While Niland said she doesn't judge others for the cars they drive, 'It just felt so different getting into that car and driving it than it did when I first bought it.' It was a shift in sentiment she felt in subtle ways from other Tesla owners during her time on the owners' board, Niland said. Meetups saw less attendees, and board members left quietly. People 'just were no longer interested in identifying as a Tesla owner.' One person she had convinced to buy a Tesla later reached out saying they could not buy the car after statements made by Musk. Another Tesla owner confided in her that they just wanted to sell it. Niland said she considers herself relatively moderate with her politics, but the car's negative connotations became too much for her. While she'll express her views to friends and online, she wasn't the type to put up signs or march, she said. 'What Elon has done to the brand is just make it feel dirty,' Niland said. It was 'bittersweet' selling the car, she said, but she 'couldn't keep it anymore.' 'I'd get in every day and have those horrible feelings about, 'Why am I driving this car,' and thinking that something horrible is going to go wrong and I'm going to be left with a piece of junk,' she said. But since then, Niland said, she 'couldn't be happier' she did after events in January and February. Babb said it was a 'cautionary tale' for businesses to keep a 'healthy distance' between a brand and one individual. While she personally understands a company's reputation 'is more than just one person,' Tesla 'would be well advised to regain a focus on how the features of its product benefit its consumers and distance itself from a person. That's a best practice anyway' Originally Published:
