The volt-head has overtaken the petrol-head

0370 270 6000

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Home

Insights & events

Resources

Blogs

The volt-head has overtaken the petrol-head - provided the batteries don’t run out…..

31 March 2011

Tesla has issued proceedings against the BBC for malicious falsehood and defamation following Top Gear’s review of Tesla’s Roadster car.

The defamation claim relates to a statement that the electric car would only last 55 miles on a test track, despite the manufacturer claim of 200 miles. Tesla says the statement suggests it had “grossly misled potential purchasers” but surely most drivers know that a car’s range is reduced if driven hard, especially around a race track.

The malicious falsehood claim appears stronger. The claim states the Roadster never actually ran out of charge, despite footage showing it being pushed into a garage. Whether the footage amounts to malicious falsehood may depend on whether such footage is widely understood to be dramatised for entertainment purposes, or whether it should be taken to be a serious review of the car’s performance.

Tesla are evidently upset but litigating will only draw attention to other features of the Top Gear review, potentially exposing their cars to further negative coverage.

Related opinions

IR35 rules to be scrapped from April 2023

The Chancellor’s recent mini-budget provided a significant announcement for business as it was confirmed that the off-payroll working rules (known as “IR35”) put in place for public and private sector businesses from 2017 and 2021 will be scrapped from April 2023.

View blog

Cameras in convenience stores: a potential hornet’s nest..?

A convenience retailer has opted to install cameras (the “Facewatch” system) at a limited number of its English stores to reduce crime and protect its staff.

View blog

Covid Rent Arrears: Cinema operators’ appeals dismissed

The Court of Appeal has dismissed two cases regarding rent arrears accrued during the Covid lockdowns. The cases are London Trocadero (2015) LLP v Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd and Bank of New York Mellon (International) Ltd v Cine-UK Ltd.

View blog

Homes England partners with local authorities to boost the levelling up agenda

Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator, has partnered with two local authorities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Association of South Essex Local Authorities, in a new Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) which is designed to align with the government’s levelling up agenda by delivering new homes in the regions.

View blog

View all blogs