• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Germany’s Transport Ministry Denies It Is Investigating Tesla

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 8, 2016, 12:54 PM ET
Photograph by John Leyba Denver Post via Getty Images

Germany’s Transport Ministry denied a report on Friday that it was investigating Tesla Motors for updating driving assistance software without informing authorities, but said it was “clarifying technical issues” on the matter.

German magazine Der Spiegel reported, without citing a source, that there were indications that Tesla (TSLA) uploaded new software features to a driving assistance system which had not been examined for security during regular approval proceedings.

It added the ministry therefore launched an investigation.

“The report is incorrect,” a ministry spokesman said. “There are no investigation proceedings against Tesla.

“We are clarifying the technical issues,” the ministry spokesman added. “At the moment, it is a normal gathering of information on the status quo between the car watchdog and the ministry.”

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The Der Spiegel report, released on Friday ahead of the magazine’s publication on Saturday, said the driving assistance system in question was a device designed for regulating car overtaking maneuvers.

If the suspicions were confirmed, Tesla could lose type approval for its Model S vehicles, meaning they would be banned from the roads, the report said.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said last year during a visit in Berlin that he viewed Germany as the next most important market for his company after the United States.

In 2015, Tesla sold 1,582 Model S cars in Germany, Europe’s largest car market.

The magazine added that Tesla had applied for type approval in the Netherlands and therefore only the Dutch authorities could withdraw the approval for the European market again.

For more about Tesla, watch:

A spokeswoman for Tesla Germany was not immediately available to comment.

The magazine said it had put the allegations to Tesla but did not get a comment from the U.S. company before its editorial deadline on Thursday evening.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

EconomyDebt
U.S. debt suddenly draws weaker demand as $10 trillion must be rolled over this year amid Iran war. ‘The bond market remains undefeated’
By Jason MaMarch 28, 2026
58 minutes ago
C-SuiteLeadership
Meta executives could earn nearly $1 billion each if they hit goals in pursuit of a $9 trillion valuation
By Claire ZillmanMarch 28, 2026
2 hours ago
Travel & Leisuretourism
Airbnbs are topping $6,000 a night in World Cup housing frenzy
By Maya Davis, Brandon Sapienza and BloombergMarch 28, 2026
3 hours ago
EconomyAir Travel
‘Airport Dad’ faces reckoning amid long lines as travelers told not to arrive too early: ’90 minutes before departure is all you need’
By John Seewer and The Associated PressMarch 28, 2026
3 hours ago
Real EstateHousing
Biden’s Build America, Buy America law spurs affordable housing bottleneck as Trump’s federal staffing cuts slow waiver approvals
By Charlotte Kramon and The Associated PressMarch 28, 2026
3 hours ago
Energyfuel costs
As fuel prices soar on Iran war, some lawmakers push to suspend federal gas tax that pays for highway and public transit programs
By Matthew Daly and The Associated PressMarch 28, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Success
Meetings are not work, says Southwest Airlines CEO—and he’s taking action by blocking his calendar every afternoon from Wednesday to Friday 
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of March 27, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago
AI
Exclusive: Anthropic acknowledges testing new AI model representing ‘step change’ in capabilities, after accidental data leak reveals its existence
By Fortune EditorsMarch 26, 2026
2 days ago
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, March 27, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago
Success
This AI-proof career faces a 250,000-worker shortage—now the Trump administration is trying to revive the job millennials abandoned
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago
Economy
‘There is no silver lining in this trajectory’: Budget watchdog warns of financial, inflation, or currency crisis due to $39 trillion U.S. debt
By Fortune EditorsMarch 27, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.