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Norway Tesla owners go to extreme lengths to make Elon Musk aware of their complaints

Credit: Tesla Hunger Strike

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Some Tesla owners in Norway are going to extreme lengths to get Elon Musk’s attention about their vehicles’ issues. So dedicated was the group to its cause that the Tesla owners went on a hunger strike to express their displeasure about a number of problems they have been experiencing with their vehicles. 

On its official website, the group noted that it believes that if Elon Musk is aware of the troubles of Tesla owners in Norway, he will solve the EV owners’ issues. This is not a farfetched sentiment, as Elon Musk recently noted during his appearance at the 2022 ONS conference that he is extremely thankful for Norway’s support of electric vehicles

Yet, according to the group of dissatisfied Tesla owners, they have been suffering due to several issues with their cars. The owners listed 29 problems that are causing grief, from cold weather problems, build quality issues, and bad communication with owners. 

Following is the full list of the owners’ grievances. 

  • The car won’t start in cold weather
  • Door handles won’t open in cold weather
  • Intense squeaking noise
  • Car won’t start in warm weather
  • “Bubbles” in seats
  • Loose front seat
  • Trunk lid filled with rain water
  • Autopilot does not work properly
  • Internet is slow and does not work as it ought to
  • The wipers do not work (well enough)
  • The car creaks when you pass speed bumps and other bumps in the road
  • Decorative moldings loosen
  • The lights do not work properly
  • The doors stop working properly
  • Doors that open by themselves
  • The computer does not work
  • Yellow edges around the display screens
  • Windows that do not close completely
  • Systems reset on their own
  • Problems charging
  • Reduced power
  • Rust problems on new cars (especially Model 3)
  • Poor paint quality means that the car has to be repainted
  • You were promised free charging throughout the car’s lifetime, but the new charging stations do not fit the car
  • Lower battery life that Tesla claims
  • Problems with the air conditioner
  • Not all problems are solved when the car is serviced
  • Tesla promise to contact you, but you do not hear from them
  • You have to wait on the phone for a long time before Tesla answers

The group is calling on anyone willing to help to spread the word about its efforts. According to the Tesla owners, Norway is a canary in the coal mine of sorts, as its population owns more Teslas per capita than any country in the world. 

“We are a group of dissatisfied Norwegian Tesla owners. We believe that if Elon Musk is made aware of our troubles, he will solve the situation. Please help us get his attention,” the group wrote. 

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Erlend Mørc, a non-Tesla owner who started the hunger strike on behalf of Tesla owners, informed Carscoops that he is hoping Tesla would listen. Otherwise, he noted that competitors could catch up. “Now that it’s over, I hope Tesla listens. This will be in their own self-interest. They are so well positioned to dominate the EV market, but if too many people experience these troubles, other car manufacturers will be ready to take their place,” Mørc said. 

Mørc added that the hunger strike was attended by the owners of 17 Teslas, as well as other individuals who supported the group’s goals. The hunger strike lasted 24 hours between August 27 and August 28, 2022. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Waymo faces federal probe after self-driving taxi fails to stop for school bus

In a statement, a Waymo representative stated that the company has “already developed and implemented improvements” that should help its fleet avoid similar incidents in the future.

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Credit: Waymo

Federal regulators have launched an investigation into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles after reports that one of its autonomous taxis failed to stop properly for a school bus. 

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that it’s reviewing around 2,000 Waymo vehicles following concerns that its autonomous systems may have violated traffic laws.

Waymo under review

According to a Reuters report, the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation began the probe after flagging a media report involving a Waymo self-driving taxi that did not remain stationary when approaching a school bus. At the time of the incident, the school bus had its red lights flashing, its stop arm was deployed, and its crossing control arm was extended.

As per the ODI’s report, the Waymo initially stopped beside the bus before maneuvering around its front. This resulted in the vehicle passing the school bus’ extended stop arm and crossing control arm. Students from the bus were disembarking when the Waymo committed the error. The vehicle was operating without a safety driver at the time, and it was equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation Automated Driving System (ADS).

Software fix already in place

In a statement, a Waymo representative stated that the company has “already developed and implemented improvements related to stopping for school buses and will land additional software updates in our next software release.” The spokesperson also highlighted that Waymo prioritizes the safety of pedestrians, especially children, in its vehicles’ operations. 

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“Driving safely around children has always been one of Waymo’s highest priorities. In the event referenced, the vehicle approached the school bus from an angle where the flashing lights and stop sign were not visible and drove slowly around the front of the bus before driving past it, keeping a safe distance from children,” Waymo noted.

Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet, operates a fleet of more than 1,500 robotaxis in major U.S. cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. The company continues to expand its footprint and plans future operations in Tokyo and London.

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Kia and Tesla top list in Swedish study of strongest EV batteries

A major Swedish study has revealed which electric vehicles hold their battery health the best, and Kia and Tesla came out on top. 

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

A major Swedish study has revealed which electric vehicles hold their battery health the best, and Kia and Tesla came out on top. 

Swedish car broker Kvdbil initiated a test of more than 1,300 used BEVs and plug-in hybrids to determine which models retain the best battery capacity over time. Based on the study’s results, the Kia EV6, Kia e-Niro, and the Tesla Model Y were deemed the best.

Kia and Tesla lead the pack

Kvdbil’s test results are bullish for electric vehicles as a whole. The study showed that eight out of ten used electric cars still had at least 90% of their original battery capacity. Kia’s EV6 and e-Niro finished first and second in the rankings, while Tesla’s Model Y came in third. As per CarInfo data, Sweden currently has 12,148 Kia EV6 registered, while there are 48,488 Model Y.

In a comment to the media, test manager Martin Reinholdsson stated, “They are actually better than we thought. We were a bit surprised that there were so many that were this good.”

In a way, Tesla’s strong performance in the test carries extra weight since the Model Y is one of Sweden’s best-selling EVs, giving the test a much larger sample size compared to Kia’s smaller but highly rated fleet. 

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Battery tech, driver habits, and age all play a role

Kvdbil noted that the test’s standout results could be attributed to advanced battery management systems and careful engineering, as noted in a report from the Sweden Herald. At the same time, the study also found that factors like charging routines, driving style, and the age of a vehicle can influence capacity retention.

Rounding out the top ten were entries from Opel, Mazda, Audi, Fiat, Volvo, Citroën, and Volkswagen, as noted in a CarUp report.

This is not the first time that Tesla’s battery prowess has shown its strength. Last year, reports emerged stating that a Tesla Model S 90D from Chesterfield, UK, had traveled 430,000 miles on its original motors and batteries. Over that period, which was comprised of constant Supercharging sessions due to the car being used as an airport taxi, the Model S 90D only lost 65 miles of range.

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Tesla just made Service even easier and more convenient

The new feature is rolling out to iOS users now; we have not heard any confirmation from Android phone users whether they are receiving it too.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla just made servicing your vehicle even easier and more convenient than it already is.

All it did was add a new section to its smartphone app.

Tesla has officially launched a new Maintenance tab that estimates the repair date and cost, and uses vehicle data to determine if any part is in need of replacement.

It can be found by accessing the app, going to Service, then hitting Request Service, and then Maintenance.

The new feature is rolling out to iOS users now; we have not heard any confirmation from Android phone users whether they are receiving it too. Since it is not a vehicle capability, we do not believe Tesla will delay the release of the feature to Android phones.

Teslas are already well known for having extremely low maintenance needs, and semi-annual check ups usually only require a tire rotation and some additional windshield washer fluid. There is not a need for things like oil changes or other things that are routinely needed on combustion engine cars due to the lack of parts.

Additionally, the small addition to the company’s smartphone app will help facilitate needs for Service, and could help relieve some congestion, while also streamlining the repair process for technicians.

Tesla to make app change for easier communication following Service

One of the biggest complaints about owning a Tesla is Service wait times, as availability can be extremely limited in some areas. However, Tesla has done a lot to work on increasing the number of Service centers it has, while also working hard to streamline service and make it less time-consuming.

Tesla has aimed to have an F1-style service experience, but it has not worked out that way. With that being said, there are significantly fewer complaints with Tesla’s Service division than in years past. With the presence of Mobile Technicians and more refined Service processes, things are definitely improving.

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