Several Tesla owners have filed a lawsuit against the automaker, alleging that the company falsely advertised the range of its electric vehicles. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims that Tesla "grossly overvalued" the range of its vehicles, which is the estimated distance a vehicle can travel on a single battery charge.
The lawsuit cites a recent Reuters investigation that found that Tesla had inflated its range estimates for years. The investigation found that Tesla had created a "diversion team" to handle customer complaints about lower-than-expected range. The team was trained to tell customers that the EPA-approved range estimates were just a prediction, and to provide tips on how to extend range.
The lawsuit alleges that Tesla's false advertising violated state consumer fraud statutes. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status and damages.