Tesla customers went on the barricades because they suddenly had to pay a multiple for their solar roofs. A class action lawsuit has now been settled.
This solar roof from Tesla cost less than 25,000 euros. That was before the so-called roof complexity factor. (Source: Screenshot)
Tesla is one of the most prominent providers of solar roofs in the USA. This was repeatedly announced for the German market, but never installed on a large scale. Instead, companies like Autarq and others offer solar roof tiles.
In the US, where demand for Tesla’s solar roofs has at times far outstripped supply, Tesla has garnered tremendous attention. Also, because the installations should pay for themselves particularly quickly, the comparatively low prices shone.
But many customers had not reckoned with Tesla and were surprised by a so-called “roof complexity” factor. With this, Tesla apparently wanted to cushion the costs associated with installation on complicated roofs.
However, as reported by the US magazine Electrek, Tesla subsequently tried to implement this roof complexity factor in construction projects that had already been contractually concluded. For example, customers who have signed a contract and have received a concrete statement of costs should subsequently pay a surcharge of between 30 and 150 percent.
Tesla’s actions met with widespread incomprehension, customers went to court in the form of a class action lawsuit that is permissible in the USA. Tesla tried to take countermeasures, backtracked in places and refrained from charging the additional fee for existing contracts.
The class action lawsuit was nevertheless heard and has now come to a conclusion. The company around Elon Musk has agreed to settle the legal dispute over the solar roofs in the amount of 6 million US dollars. The money is now to be distributed among the buyers affected by the price increase. You can read more about alternative energy production here on Netzwelt.
Also interesting right now…
Don’t miss anything with the NETWORK-Newsletter
Every Friday: The most informative and entertaining summary from the world of technology!