Tesla Lawsuit: Woman Ordered to Pay $23K After Brake Complaint

Tesla Prevails in Defamation Lawsuit

An investigation conducted by the Associated Press (AP) reveals that Tesla has successfully concluded a defamation lawsuit against Zhang Yazhou.

The case originated from an incident in February 2021, where Zhang, a passenger in a Tesla Model 3, claimed the vehicle crashed due to brake failure.

Details of the Incident and Legal Proceedings

Zhang’s parents sustained injuries requiring a four-day hospitalization as a result of the alleged malfunction. Subsequently, Zhang engaged in public protests and initiated a defamation suit against the automaker.

Tesla responded with a countersuit, alleging defamation by Zhang. A Chinese court ultimately ruled in favor of Tesla, mandating Zhang to pay approximately $23,000 in damages and issue a public apology.

Despite Zhang’s ongoing appeal, Tesla eventually released telemetry data from the vehicle in question. This data reportedly demonstrated the braking system operated correctly.

Pattern of Legal Action by Tesla

The AP report indicates that Tesla has pursued legal action against “at least” six vehicle owners in China over the last four years.

These lawsuits were filed in response to complaints concerning mechanical problems experienced with their Tesla vehicles.

Analysis of Court Judgments

A review of Chinese court records by the AP uncovered 81 civil judgments involving Tesla owners filing suits against the company.

These cases encompassed disputes related to safety, quality, and contractual agreements. Owners were successful in only nine of these instances.

Actions Against Media and Bloggers

Furthermore, the report highlights that Tesla has initiated legal proceedings against media outlets and online commentators.

Specifically, Tesla has sued “at least six bloggers and two Chinese media outlets” for publishing critical assessments of the company.

• The lawsuits stem from negative reporting and commentary.
• Tesla appears to be actively defending its reputation through legal channels.