Tesla remotely disabled fast-charging on damaged cars, owner's legal challenges dismissed
Tesla has successfully defended its decision to remotely disable fast-charging capabilities on damaged vehicles that were deemed unsafe. A New Zealand High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge from an owner who argued the manufacturer's software intervention was an overreach of control.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing tension between manufacturer control over connected vehicle software and consumer ownership rights.
Tesla has pulled the plug on the owner of two second-hand cars it felt weren't safe to charge, in case the batteries caught fire.
The US automotive company, which has service centres in New Zealand, activated the "disable" button on the cars' fast-charging function when it learned the written-off vehicles were destined for repair and would be back on the road.
Peter Goodricke didn't know until he opened his Tesla app and software updates switched off the charging function.
He had bought the damaged Teslas at a Turners auction and apparently missed the fine print in the manufacturer's unsupported vehicle policy that fast-charging would be disabled until the risk of fire or other damage could be assessed.
Tesla justified its position by the risk posed by damaged high-voltage batteries.
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