South Korean Consumer Group Plans to File Complaint with Fair Trade Commission Over Tesla's FSD Sales

November 4 news: The Korean consumer rights organization "Citizens' Coalition for Consumer Sovereignty" is preparing to file a complaint against Tesla with the Korea Fair Trade Commission on the 5th local time. The organization alleges that Tesla marketed the FSD driver-assistance system to consumers in Korea even though most vehicles sold there cannot legally use the feature,涉嫌 misleading tens of thousands of consumers. The organization pointed out that Tesla has for years marketed FSD software in Korea at a one-time payment price of 9.043 million won (approximately 44,900 yuan). Tesla Korea chief Seo Young-deuk testified at the National Assembly last month that only about 20% of Tesla vehicles registered in Korea are capable of using FSD, all of which are vehicles produced in the United States. Most Tesla vehicles sold in Korea are produced in China, and there is no similar agreement between China and Korea. Data Tesla provided to the Korean National Assembly shows that since 2023, Tesla has sold more than 170,000 Shanghai factory-produced vehicles in Korea. The consumer group also alleged that in 2025 Tesla promoted FSD with the slogan "coming soon" and released a demonstration video filmed in Korea, without clearly stating that only a small number of vehicles on sale at the time could use the feature. The complaint mentioned that more than three years after charging for FSD, Tesla only recently began applying for the certification required to use FSD for vehicles produced in China. On October 8, Seo Young-deuk stated at a National Assembly hearing that Tesla had not yet formally applied to the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for FSD testing, and two weeks later Tesla submitted the certification application. The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport noted that FSD does not comply with Korean safety regulations, including the requirement that drivers must keep both hands on the steering wheel. The consumer group is asking the Korea Fair Trade Commission to issue a temporary injunction prohibiting Tesla from continuing to market the software for models that cannot legally use FSD, impose an administrative fine on Tesla, and refer the case to investigative authorities.