US electric-car giant Tesla was found to have sold more than 950 products which did not comply with Australia’s ‘button battery’ safety requirements.
Tesla has paid more than $155,000 in fines issued by Australia’s top consumer watchdog, after the US electric-car giant failed to adhere to stringent safety standards aimed at preventing children from choking on ‘button batteries’.
In June 2022, the Federal Government introduced new legislation which requires all products powered by a button battery – car key fobs included – to be produced in a way which ensures children cannot get access to the potentially deadly devices inside.
The products are also required to include safety warning labels, warning users that button batteries are a choking hazard and a cause of chemical burns if swallowed by children.
The regulations were introduced following the deaths of three children in Australia which were attributed to the insertion or ingestion of button batteries.
In a media statement, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleged Tesla “failed to conduct the required safety tests before supplying three of its key fob models and two of its illuminated door sill models and failed to provide the mandatory safety warnings on these products as required by the standard.”
According to the ACCC, Tesla was issued 10 infringement notices – totalling $155,460 in penalties – for failing to comply with the safety standards, which related to the sale of key fobs for its Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y electric cars.
The infringement notices were also issued for the sale of illuminated door sills in the Model 3 and Model S sedans, which Tesla claims run on a “long-lasting battery” – understood to be a button battery.
The ACCC says 952 examples of the affected products were sold by Tesla in Australia between 22 June 2022 and 30 May 2023.
According to the consumer watchdog, Tesla has already paid its penalty of $155,460 – though the items are yet to go back on sale, pending the result of tests to ensure their compliance with the safety standards.
As reported in March 2023, Mitsubishi was forced to recall almost 7500 vehicles in Australia after it was discovered some car keys were not fitted with mandatory warning labels for button batteries – though it is understood the Japanese car-maker was not financially penalised by the ACCC.
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