Tesla Suit Against Top Gear Thrown Out Again

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

A U.K. court dismissed a libel lawsuit from Tesla against the BBC show “Top Gear,” Bloomberg reports.

The case had been thrown out before. Tesla appealed.

In the show, Jeremy Clarkson said the car would only run for 55 miles on a full battery. Tesla said he lied, and that the breakdown was scripted.

Three judges dismissed the appeal today, saying they were not persuaded that “the case which Tesla seeks to make has any real prospect of success.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Mar 05, 2013

    Whispering: "Psst... Elon, come over here. You're right, and we both know it. But the court doesn't get it, and those Top Gear guys are a bunch of jerks, not to mention that bunch from the New York Times. What a lousy justice system we have. They just don't understand. They didn't get DeLorean, either, but today everyone knows he built the ultimate time machine. But let's move on and get the Model X finished. Then you can laugh all the way to the bank."

  • Dougjp Dougjp on Mar 05, 2013

    So this is what Eh-Lon thinks the marketing budget is for. Or he's been zapped one too many times.

    • Hummer Hummer on Mar 05, 2013

      Or perhaps he's hoping to keep the company afloat with lawsuits... Just a thought..... haha

  • E46M3_333 E46M3_333 on Mar 05, 2013

    I just watched the TG video for the first time. I think Elon let his ego get the best of him. There's no way a reasonable person would conclude there was libel there. The reviewer also made many positive comments about the car. Elon just had his feelings hurt. Boo hoo.

  • Junebug Junebug on Mar 06, 2013

    I love TG (the UK version) and I think it's great that they tell it like it is. It's like hearing what reveiwers really think before the boss reminds them about the biting the hand that feeds them. I laugh at the clowns at Car & Driver and Motor Trend, you can always tell who "paid" for the review.

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