Tesla Motors, alleging that the review of BBC's popular TV program "Top Gear" is unjustified and sued

America's electric car maker Tesla Motors announced that it filed a suit against BBC's popular program "Top Gear" on the topic of automobiles.

According to Tesla, Top Gear broadcasts lies about the behavior and reliability of Tesla's electric vehicle "Tesla Roadster" and ignored it though he tried to contact the BBC The situation continued, and it was said that it appealed unnecessarily.

Speaking of Top GearTry trying out the ruggedness of Toyota Hilux completelyIn addition to doing irresponsible projects trying to cross the Dover Strait with a truck modified to amphibious cars, it is also known for severe car review, Hyundai's "accent" is "This is an accent" It is said that "It's an accident" instead of "It's an accident."

Tesla vs. Top Gear | Lawsuit: Tesla sues Top Gear for libel and malicious falsehood | Tesla Motors

Local time On Tuesday, March 29, Tesla appealed BBC's TV program "Top Gear" as broadcasting slander and malicious falsehoods. The top five mistakes that Tesla claims are the following five points.

1. In reviewing programs,Tesla Roadstar had run out of charge, four men pushed to Top Gear's hanger and was movedabout
2.The roadster's cruising distance is 55 miles (about 89 km) instead of 211 miles (about 340 km)Remark
3. One of the Roadster used in the reviewMotor overheated and it stopped movingThat
4. Another oneThe brake was broken.That
5. These areThere was no problem when Top Gear received the offer of Roadster

Tesla informed BBC that he would like to stop broadcasting things containing incorrect content, but the BBC side did not receive contact, and this content includes not only broadcasting at BBC but also programs for the whole world Hundreds of millions of viewers will see it due to sales, distribution via the Internet, and so on. Also, DVD is also included and sold.

Tesla is saying that Top Gear is unjustly defaming Roadster and its EV (Electric Vehicle) technology. In this case Tesla does not specify a specific invoice amount, but according to the complaint it seems that there will be claims of up to 100,000 pounds (about 13.4 million yen). Tesla actually uploaded this complaint on the site.

In addition, Top Gear made a review of Tesla Roadster at the series 12 episode 7 broadcast on December 14, 2008.

As for what kind of review actually did, first of all we conducted a drag race with Lotus Elysees, which became the base of Tesla Roadster.


The show host Jeremy Clarkson rides on the roadster, and at first it presents a quirky expression on the quietness of the engine sound.


However, as soon as I start running, I will be praising the speed as "Good-bye Dialup, Hello Broadband Motoring!" "This car is exactly electric (it is electric car and fast as lightning)!"


On the other hand, because the heavy engine is not mounted, the undercarriage is solidified with a direction not spinning than the cornering performance, and it is represented by a slightly negative nuance. However, again it seems that he liked the speed of the straight line, declaring it as "it is the age of electricity from now on".

However, after this, Roadster stopped as Tesla claims. In the program "If gasoline refueling ends in two to three minutes, but charging takes 16 hours," "It takes 3 days to Scotland", criticism, after all it is a crystal of technology, after all it is regrettable the real world It is not evaluated that it will not move ".

This made Tesla furious, it seems that four adults push the roadster up to the hanger.


Program's usual, masked driver'sThe StigTime measurement by the time was also done. Time isPorsche 911 GT 3It was the same.


According to Jeremy's talk in his column "Jeremy's Review", Tesla did not say anything about the event at the time of recording,GuardianYaNew York Times,Daily MailIt is said that Top Gear received a heavy attack from the media such as "Inspiration". And again in the column, "Tesla Roadster can still use it only to invite women" is slaughtered.

Top Gear is showing a stance of contending about this matter.

Additional notes:
In October 2011, the court ruled on the program's favor. Because Top Gear is an entertainment program to the last, it is based on the judgment that the conclusion issued there is because of entertainment.

Tesla Motors who is not convinced about this content raised a trial again in 2012, but this is also rejected.