Tesla Model 3 and model X cars charging in a parking lot next to a Tesla store in San Diego
FILE PHOTO: Tesla Model 3 and X cars charging in an underground parking lot next to a Tesla store in San Diego, California, U.S., May 30, 2018. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Blake)

Tesla is in the steam again, years after the electric car company began touting the cost for its electric cars that make them appear to be thousands of dollars cheaper. This is by factoring future fuel savings and government incentives. Thus, the company's CEO, Elon Musk is ending the practice for its Model 3 car in Germany. But the gas-savings pricing still continues for the US customers. 

Last week the German fair competition watchdog Wettbewerbszentrale said that Tesla must stop including fuel savings that the company estimates come over five years into the displayed cost of the Model 3 by March 20. The independent monitoring group condemns the electric car company's practice to be misleading for the consumers. Thus, by March 8 the company's German site have already adjusted how it displays the process. It shows only the base purchase cost, according to Forbes.  

However, the US consumer still sees the information of the prices with an asterisk on the company's website that makes the $35,000 Model 3 appear to cost $26,950. It is because the most prominent prices on the page, that can be seen on the upper right and lower left sides of the page, makes $8,050 deductions from the federal tax credit and theoretical gas savings. 

Earlier February of this year, Elon Musk Tweeted to his followers that "Model 3 starting cost now ~$35k (after ~$8k of credits and fuel savings). Ignoring the price of $42,900 at that time. This happens a week before Tesla added the base price of $35,000 car. 
Tesla has estimated the $4,300 of fuel savings based on a comparison of what it costs to recharge and drove the Model 3 for 10,000 miles a year. It is compared to a 2017 BMW 3 series sedan. It averages to 28 miles per gallons that require more costly premium gasoline, according to Elektrek. 

Germany's consumer watchdog said that the savings with regards to the fuel are greatly based on how much the consumer drives. Also, if the consumer is using it the Tesla way. They noted that it is arbitrary, lacks transparency and contradicts principles of true and actual pricing."

Furthermore, the regulators in California and the Federal Trade Commission avoided the restrictions made by Germany. According to the spokesman for the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Marty Greenstein, "No action has been taken at this time." The spokesman is in charge to ensure that the car dealers including Tesla do not violate a statute of false advertising.