Core Viewpoint - A group of seven Tesla owners in China has filed a lawsuit against the company for alleged fraud regarding the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature, claiming that their vehicles cannot support the promised capabilities due to hardware limitations [1][7]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in August 2023 in the Daxing District People's Court in Beijing, marking the first instance of Chinese consumers suing Tesla over the FSD feature [1]. - The plaintiffs are seeking a refund of the FSD purchase price along with triple compensation, citing misleading advertising and the inability of their vehicles to perform as promised [7]. - The legal basis for the lawsuit includes violations of consumer rights laws, which require businesses to provide truthful and comprehensive information about their products [7][9]. Group 2: Customer Experience - One plaintiff, referred to as "Lufei," purchased the FSD feature in August 2019 for CNY 56,000, based on Tesla's claims of achieving full autonomy within two to three years [2][4]. - After five years, Lufei reported that the FSD feature only enabled basic functions like highway lane changes, while more advanced features remained unfulfilled [4]. - Tesla's FSD feature has seen a price increase, currently priced at CNY 64,000, which has contributed to customer dissatisfaction [4]. Group 3: Company Response and Changes - In February 2023, Tesla rebranded the FSD feature from "Full Self-Driving Capability" to "FSD Smart Assist Driving," limiting its availability to vehicles equipped with the newer HW4.0 hardware [4]. - Tesla's customer service has reportedly denied refund requests for the FSD feature, stating that the "Smart Assist Driving" option is non-refundable [5][6]. - Elon Musk acknowledged in a recent earnings call that the HW3 hardware may not support full self-driving capabilities, which has raised further concerns among customers [4].

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing conflict between Elon Musk and Donald Trump highlights the complexities of political and business relationships, particularly regarding government subsidies and support for Musk's companies [3][4]. Group 1: Musk and Trump's Conflict - Musk has criticized Trump's "big and beautiful" plan, suggesting that if it passes, a new political party should be formed [3]. - Trump retaliated by stating that Musk has received more government subsidies than anyone else, implying that without these, Musk's businesses would fail [3]. - The relationship between Musk and Trump has cooled after Musk's previous apology, indicating a complicated dynamic where both parties have vested interests [3][4]. Group 2: Implications for Business - Musk's businesses, particularly Tesla, have historically benefited from bipartisan government support, making a complete fallout with Trump potentially detrimental [4]. - The narrative that Trump cannot operate without Musk is challenged, as both parties have their own political and financial motivations [5][6]. - Speculation exists that their public disputes may be a strategic maneuver to influence stock prices, although the risks involved are significant [7].