In France, many car speedometers show speeds up to 240 or even 260 km/h, even though the legal speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h. This has led to questions about whether the speedometer readings are accurate or if they are exaggerated. The high-speed markings can give the impression of a more powerful vehicle than it actually is, leading some to believe they are marketing tactics or a subtle encouragement to drive faster. However, according to TF1 Info, there are several technical, industrial, and regulatory reasons behind these figures. A TF1 news report featured a driver showing the speedometer of her small car, which climbed up to 260 km/h. The driver noted that the speedometer reading was much higher than the car's actual capabilities. Other drivers with more powerful vehicles also displayed speedometers capped at 240 km/h, suggesting that these high figures might be intended to flatter drivers' egos and highlight the car's performance. The reasons for these high speedometer readings include the need for a margin beyond the 130 km/h speed limit in France, as some neighboring countries like Germany have sections of the Autobahn with no general speed limit. Additionally, the automotive industry often uses a single speedometer design across different engine types, with the speedometer calibrated according to the version with the highest speed. For example, Volkswagen uses the same electric car with either a numerical display or a needle dial graduated up to 240 km/h. According to UN Regulation No. 39, integrated into European law, speedometers must not display less than the actual speed but allow for an overestimation of about 10% plus 4 km/h. In the Paris region, the Stellantis group is developing future speedometers for Peugeot and other brands, moving away from traditional needle displays and high-speed markings. Instead, they are focusing on more useful information such as instantaneous speed, speed control, and navigation. Electric cars, in particular, emphasize battery charge levels and digital speedometers. Some manufacturers like Renault and Volvo are limiting the actual maximum speed of their cars to 180 km/h, signaling a shift away from emphasizing peak speed. Despite these changes, many speedometers still display 240 or 260 km/h on cars that will never reach those speeds.