Tesla is currently under investigation by federal authorities for potential misuse of company resources connected to CEO Elon Musk’s personal benefit. Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are looking into how much money Tesla spent on a secret project, believed to be a big glass house in Texas for Musk’s private use.
Additionally, Manhattan federal prosecutors are checking if Tesla gave incorrect information about the battery range of its electric cars. Reports suggest that Tesla’s electric cars often don’t reach the promised range and their touchscreens show wrong remaining range to drivers.
Both Tesla and the Manhattan prosecutor’s office haven’t responded to comments. The SEC, in an email to CNBC, stated it doesn’t comment on investigations. These inquiries are added to several other ongoing investigations Tesla faces from different regulators.
In a recent report, Tesla shared its cooperation with various regulators and authorities. This includes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the SEC, the Department of Justice, and other agencies. Tesla’s history shows it usually cooperates with such requests.
(Source: CNBC | WSJ | Reuters)