Italy closes EV consumer information probes into Stellantis, Volkswagen, Tesla and BYD

Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has formally closed its investigation into four major electric vehicle manufacturers—Stellantis, Volkswagen, Tesla, and BYD—without imposing fines, after accepting the companies’ binding commitments to improve consumer transparency.

The probe, launched earlier this year, scrutinized whether the automakers were providing misleading information regarding driving range, battery lifespan, and charging costs. The authority had threatened penalties of up to €10 million per company if violations were confirmed. However, the regulator stated on Friday that the commitments offered by the firms were sufficient to resolve the concerns without further punitive action.

Real-world range simulators

A central component of the settlement is the mandatory implementation of Range Simulation Tools on the automakers’ Italian websites. Moving beyond the standardized but often optimistic WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) figures, these digital calculators will allow prospective buyers to estimate realistic driving range based on variables such as outdoor temperature, driving style, and the use of air conditioning.

Warranty clarifications

The investigation also forced a rewrite of battery warranty terms. Stellantis, Volkswagen, and BYD have agreed to strengthen their warranty coverage, specifically clarifying the threshold for battery degradation (capacity loss) that triggers a free replacement.

Tesla, while not altering its underlying warranty product, committed to scrubbing “generic or contradictory” claims from its promotional materials. This ensures customers clearly understand the limitations of battery performance over time and the specific conditions under which warranty claims are valid.

Summary

Italy’s competition watchdog (AGCM) has closed its investigation into Stellantis, Volkswagen, Tesla, and BYD regarding misleading EV claims. To avoid fines of up to €10 million, the carmakers have agreed to launch “real-world” range simulators on their websites and clarify battery warranty terms. This ruling addresses the growing “Electrogate” concerns regarding the gap between laboratory test figures and actual electric vehicle performance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q1: Why were the carmakers investigated? 

The AGCM suspected them of misleading consumers about real-world driving range and how quickly batteries would degrade compared to advertised laboratory results.

Q2: Did they get fined? 

No. The regulator accepted “binding commitments” to update their websites and warranties instead of imposing financial penalties.

Q3: What is the new range simulator? 

It is a tool where users can input real factors—like “driving in winter” or “highway speeds”—to see an accurate range estimate instead of the best-case official WLTP number.

Q4: Does this apply outside Italy? 

The ruling is specific to Italy, but the transparency tools are expected to appear across the European Union as part of broader automotive marketing standards.