Tesla Motors, the electric vehicle manufacturer based in Silicon Valley, filed a lawsuit this week in Britain against the BBC’s popular “Top Gear” television program.
Suing for libel and malicious falsehood, Tesla took issue with a December 2008 episode that depicted problems with the brakes, cooling system and limited range of its Roadster sports car. The company is seeking up to £100,000, or about $160,000, in damages and a ruling to stop the BBC from rebroadcasting or packaging the episode for sale.
“Tesla simply wants ‘Top Gear’ to stop rebroadcasting this malicious episode and to correct the record, but they’ve repeatedly ignored Tesla’s requests,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Yet some experts say they believe the company has much to lose and little to gain by bringing the suit.
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