Tesla Motors Australia has paid fines worth $155,460 for failing to comply with mandatory safety standards for products powered by button batteries.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) alleges Tesla failed to conduct safety tests before supplying three of its key fob models and two of its illuminated door sill models. The car manufacturer also failed to provide the mandatory safety warnings on these products.

“Button batteries can be lethal for young children, and the Australian mandatory standards are designed to reduce the risk of injury through testing of the safety of products containing them before they are sold, and explicit warnings on the packaging of the products,” said Catriona Lowe, ACCC deputy chair.

“Any failure to test these products before they are sold poses an unacceptable risk to children.”

The safety standards came into effect in June 2022, following significant injuries and deaths caused by button batteries in Australia and overseas. Three children have died in the country after inserting or ingesting the parts.

Tesla has removed the products from sale and started testing them, as well as providing safety information to consumers who purchased the affected products.