The District Consumer Commission in Coimbatore has ordered an electric vehicle manufacturer, Ozotec Automobiles Private Limited, to refund Rs. 1.25 lakh to a customer, R Vijayan, who purchased an e-scooter in December 2022. The scooter was found to be defective, with a non-functional display meter, which showed the remaining battery percentage and estimated range. Despite repeated attempts to rectify the issue, the defect was not corrected within three months as promised by the manufacturer and dealer.
As a result, the scooter would frequently stop unexpectedly, leaving Vijayan stranded on the road and causing inconvenience. He continued to pay monthly loan instalments to the bank, unable to use the vehicle. He eventually filed a petition with the district consumer commission, which cited the manufacturer’s failure to honour their warranties and provide a functional product.
The commission ordered the manufacturer to refund the full cost of the scooter, Rs. 1.25 lakh, and pay a compensation of Rs. 10,000, as well as Rs. 5,000 towards litigation costs. The order aimed to provide relief to the consumer, R Vijayan, and set a precedent for other electric vehicle manufacturers to ensure that they meet the quality and performance standards promised to their customers. The commission’s directive also highlights the importance of providing functional and reliable products to the consumers, and taking prompt action to rectify defects in case of any issues.