Tesla Sues Top Gear

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Car maker sues Top Gear
Stephen Ottley
March 31, 2011 - 9:21AM


US car maker Tesla sues Top Gear
The Silicon Valley based manufacturer of electric sportscars is suing the BBC over a Top Gear episode from 2009.
US car maker Tesla is suing the BBC's Top Gear program for damages, accusing the show of "libel and malicious falsehood".

The American company has launched legal action this week over the television show's review of its all-electric Roadster sports car in December 2009. Tesla alleges the show deliberately misled viewers by portraying falsely that one Roadster ran out of battery charger while another model over-heated.

The segment by controversial host Jeremy Clarkson showed the film crew pushing the Tesla off the test track for recharging. Tesla also alleges that one of its employees saw a script that included plans to show the car being pushed before any of the cast had driven the car.


Tesla has launched legal action against Top Gear.
The two organisations clashed directly after the review went to air, but Tesla has decided to launch legal proceedings now because Top Gear is using the story on DVDs and repeats.

"We have repeatedly complained about the inaccuracies and have asked the BBC to correct them, but they ignored us," Tesla spokesman Myra Pasek told the UK's Daily Mail newspaper. "The BBC's conduct has given us no choice but to sue them and clear up their lies."

Tesla is seeking up to £100,000 ($156,000) in damages, according to its lawsuit filed with the High Court in London.

The BBC acknowledged the proceedings but offered no further comment.

This isn't the first time the British motoring show has upset car makers. Ferrari asked Top Gear to stop using fake versions of its 360 supercars for its live touring shows after Drive exclusively revealed in 2009 that stunt drivers were using rebodied Toyotas.

Top Gear was only in court last year as part of a legal battle with the publisher behind a book written by the show's former 'Stig' racing driver, Ben Collins.