China Is Investigating EV Makers As Owners Say Their Cars Lost Up To 125 Miles Of Range After Updates—And Tesla, BYD Are Being Dragged Into The Debate

Authorities in China have reportedly launched a probe into EV makers after owners claimed that EV range was reduced by approximately 200 km (125 miles) following a software update.

Battery Parameters Affected

On Saturday, CnEVPost cited a post by China Central Television (CCTV) on the Chinese social media platform Weibo in April that reported EV owners experiencing battery degradation and longer charging times after over-the-air (OTA) updates.

The authorities launched a probe into the matter and summoned over eight EV makers, three of whom were placed under investigation, the CCTV report said. “Battery locking” instances reported by owners refer to a company reportedly limiting peak charge and power outputs by EVs via software updates.

Following the April report, purported lists of brands summoned by the authorities began circulating recently, the CnEVPost report said, which included the likes of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), BYD Co. Ltd. (OTC:BYDDY) (OTC:BYDDF) and more. However, both Tesla and BYD denied the claims, the report said. Nio Inc. (NYSE:NIO) also denied being a part of the list.

Tesla Charts China Growth

The news comes as Tesla has been charting a growth in the Chinese market, with its April sales recording a 36% YoY jump as Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory produced over 79,478 Model 3 and Model Y units during the same period. On the other hand, BYD’s sales in the Chinese domestic market recorded a nearly 16% decline in April.

Banking on strong overseas growth, however, BYD believes it can expand without an entry into the U.S. market, according to the company’s Executive Vice President Stella Li. “We survive and are successful without the US market today,” she said in an interview.

Chinese EVs face a de facto ban in the U.S. and the President Donald Trump administration has solidified the stance further. Trump’s ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, had earlier said that no Chinese EVs would be able to cross the border into the country following Ottawa’s agreement with Beijing.

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Photo courtesy: Rokas Tenys on Shutterstock.com