Tesla accused of environmental violations in US and Germany

The US Environmental Protection Agency accused Tesla last week of failing to prove it is in compliance with federal emission standards for hazardous air pollutants.

Tesla is now defending itself in the US and Germany against the allegations of environmental rules violations, revealed a new financial filing.

According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the EPA is seeking specific details about how Tesla handles “surface coating” of its vehicles.

Tesla said in the filing on Wednesday that the company “has responded to all information requests from the EPA and refutes the allegations.”

Neither does the company expect any “material adverse impact” on its business over the issue.

At the same time, in Germany, another filing said that authorities had fined Tesla €12m, for allegedly failing to make public notifications and to properly fulfill their obligations to take back old batteries from customers.

The carmaker is bound by law to take back the batteries and dispose of them in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Tesla wrote in the filing: “This is primarily relating to administrative requirements, but Tesla has continued to take back battery packs.” Tesla filed an objection in Germany and said that matter should not have a material impact on Tesla’s business either.

In a public statement the day before, Tesla had notified German authorities that it wants a permit to build and operate a battery cell production facility at its new plant that was already under construction.