Ford loses $300 million fraud case in California

Core Points - California has some of the strictest consumer protection laws in the U.S., facilitated by its ballot proposition system, allowing citizens to propose laws without needing support from the governor or legislature [1] - The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, enacted in 1970, is a significant consumer protection law that safeguards California car buyers from faulty products [2][3] - Under the Song-Beverly Act, manufacturers may be required to buy back or replace defective vehicles after a reasonable number of repair attempts, and retailers must cover litigation costs if sued [6] Company and Industry Insights - Ford's total U.S. vehicle sales have shown a positive trend, with 2.08 million vehicles sold in 2024, marking a 4.2% increase from 2023, which saw 1.99 million vehicles sold, a 7.1% increase from 2022 [5] - Ford has been involved in legal disputes related to lemon laws, including a civil racketeering lawsuit against lemon-law firms, alleging overbilling for legal fees [7][8] - A judge dismissed Ford's lawsuit, citing Noerr-Pennington immunity, which protects petitioners from antitrust claims when lobbying the government [9]