Owners in China are suing Tesla over not delivering the promised self-driving capability on vehicles equipped with Tesla’s older HW3 computer (manufactured from 2019 to 2023).
Tesla claimed that all vehicles built since 2016 have the hardware capable of achieving “full self-driving” (FSD). The company has been selling a software package called “Full Self-Driving” (FSD), which it claimed would deliver unsupervised level 4-5 self-driving capabilities, but it hasn’t.
When it comes to cars produced up until 2024, vehicles equipped with its HW3 computer, Tesla has admitted that the hardware won’t support unsupervised autonomous driving as promised.
CEO Elon Musk said that Tesla would offer retrofits, but owners have serious doubts due to the scale and complexity, and the fact that Musk first admitted the hardware wouldn’t support the promise in January, and Tesla hasn’t shared a word about plans to make things right since then.
Shortly after Tesla launched FSD in China, the American automaker had to pause its rollout due to updated requirements from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Finally, only owners of Tesla vehicles equipped with the HW4 computer (2024-) received the FSD software. Those who paid for FSD with prior vehicles only received limited features, and they are unsurprisingly unhappy.
Chinese blog My Drive reports (translated from Chinese):
One plaintiff revealed to the media that he spent 56,000 yuan in August 2019 to purchase a Tesla FSD feature equipped with HW3.0 hardware. He made the purchase partly because he was a Tesla fan and trusted Musk’s promise of achieving fully autonomous driving within two to three years. He also bought it because the salesperson had insider information about an imminent price increase.
The “insider information” likely refers to Tesla CEO Elon Musk claiming that Tesla’s FSD package price would continue to increase over time as the system gets better.
That turned out to be false. The price of the FSD packaged peaked at $15,000 in 2023 and has since fallen to $8,000:
Tesla is estimated to have over 1 million vehicles equipped with the HW3 computer in China.
Now, seven Tesla owners who purchased the FSD package have filed a lawsuit in the Daxing District People’s Court of Beijing, suing Tesla Motors Sales and Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. on the grounds of sales contract disputes.
They claim that Tesla is not delivering what it promised, and they are asking to be refunded and be paid damages worth 3 times what they paid, which means Tesla could owe up to 256,000 yuan ($36,000 USD) to each person who purchased FSD, depending on when they bought it.
Electrek’s Take
I have been emphasizing this for a long time, but it is worth repeating: Tesla’s rollout and premature sales of autonomous driving features are a significant liability.
By the time this is all said and done, I believe that Tesla will have paid billions of dollars in reimbursements, settlements, and punitive awards. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s in the tens of billions.
A good time to be a lawyer.
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Blink Charging (Nasdaq: BLNK) has struck a deal with Hubject to make charging easier for EV drivers across North America.
The agreement will bring Blink into Hubject’s intercharge eRoaming platform as a charge point operator. That means electric mobility service providers (eMSPs) and their customers in the US, Canada, and Mexico will soon have access to Blink’s charging stations through their existing apps. In turn, Blink drivers will gain better access to stations connected through Hubject’s network.
Hubject, which already connects more than 1 million charging points and 2,750 partners worldwide, expects the integration to strengthen its North American presence by adding Blink’s wide-ranging network of chargers, from Level 2 workplace stations to DC fast charging. Blink, meanwhile, anticipates more customers will plug in, thanks to Hubject’s reach.
“Our collaboration with Blink marks an important step in expanding our North American intercharge network,” said Trishan Peruma, CEO of Hubject North America. “By integrating Blink’s network into our eRoaming platform, we aim to help reduce barriers that have historically complicated EV charging and to support the continued growth of EV adoption across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.”
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Blink Charging’s president and CEO Mike Battaglia added, “Connecting the Blink Network to Hubject’s platform will allow more drivers to benefit from interoperable charging while traveling.”
The integration will use the industry-standard OCPI protocol to keep billing and communication between networks secure and reliable. Deployment is planned in phases throughout 2025, with full integration targeted for the end of the year.
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Hyundai wants to make the electric sports car for everyone. Not just those who can afford it. The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Essentials trim was launched in Korea on Monday, offering a lower price tag but the same thrilling drive.
Hyundai launches new IONIQ 5 N Essentials in Korea
The IONIQ 5 N is Hyundai’s first EV sports car under the IONIQ series. Initially launched in 2023, the IONIQ 5 N marked a new era for Hyundai’s high-performance N division.
Hyundai’s electric hot hatch not only looks the part with added sporty “N” branded elements scattered inside and out, but it’s also packed with fun features, advanced tech, and a host of drive modes.
Based on a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain, the IONIQ 5 N delivers up to 641 horsepower when N Grin Boost is engaged. Even without it, the electric sports car packs 601 hp.
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It also draws power from an 84 kWh battery, good for an EPA-estimated range of 221 miles. On the WLTP scale, it’s rated with an official range of 278 miles (448 km). The added power results in a lower range than other IONIQ 5 trims.
The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 Essentials trim (Source: Hyundai)
Although it was already one of the most affordable sports cars, EV or gas-powered, Hyundai is lowering the price even further.
After launching the new Essentials model in South Korea on Monday, Hyundai said the new trim “is characterized by lowering the barrier to entry so that customers can experience the overwhelming driving performance of the IONIQ 5 N at a reasonable price through optimized specifications.”
The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 Essentials trim (Source: Hyundai)
Hyundai focused on core convenience features while including the same high-performance motors, battery, and N-specific elements as the base model.
A Hyundai official said, “The Essential trim of the IONIQ 5 N is a new trim that offers greater cost-effectiveness to lower the barrier to entry for high-performance electric vehicles.”
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (Source: Hyundai)
The IONIQ 5 N features advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including highway driving assist and navigation-based smart cruise control. Hyundai has also added an exclusive new “Parking Assist Lite” package, offering safety and convenience features such as surround view monitoring and rear parking assistance.
The new Hyundai IONIQ 5 N Essentials trim starts at 74.9 million won ($54,000), including tax benefits. Hyundai said it will continue to make competitive products so more buyers can experience high-performance EVs.
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N (Source: Hyundai)
Although the Essentials trim is not available in the US, the IONIQ 5 N is still more affordable than most sports cars. The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N starts at $66,200. But, with the $7,500 tax credit, which is set to expire on September 30, leases are currently listed as low as $549 per month.
A federal judge has cleared the way for Ørsted’s nearly complete 704-megawatt (MW) Revolution Wind offshore wind farm to restart construction, overturning a stop-work order imposed by the Trump administration.
Reagan-appointed senior US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction in Washington, DC, calling the government’s conduct “the height of arbitrary and capricious government conduct.” He added, “If Revolution Wind cannot meet benchmark deadlines, the entire project could collapse. There is no doubt in my mind of irreparable harm to the plaintiffs.”
Ørsted welcomed the ruling and said in a statement, “Revolution Wind will continue to seek to work collaboratively with the US Administration and other stakeholders toward a prompt resolution. Revolution Wind will resume impacted construction work as soon as possible, with safety as the top priority.”
The decision marks a significant setback for the Trump administration’s attempts to stall offshore wind development. Revolution Wind is already about 80% complete, with all turbine foundations and 45 of 65 turbines successfully installed, and expected to power 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. Earlier this month, the two states’ attorneys general announced they were suing the Trump administration to overturn its “baseless” decision to halt Revolution Wind. That underlying lawsuit challenging the stop-work order will continue to progress.
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Oceantic Network CEO Liz Burdock said, “Today’s decision allowing work to resume on Revolution Wind is welcome news for the hundreds of skilled workers who can now return to their jobs while the legal process continues. This Made in America energy project is putting Americans to work building reliable, affordable power to communities across New England that desperately need it.”
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