A Chinese court has ruled in favor of Tesla in a defamation lawsuit against Zhang Yazhou, a former passenger in a Tesla Model 3 that crashed in February 2021. Zhang had alleged brake failure caused the accident, which resulted in hospitalization for her parents.
Tesla countersued Zhang for defamation, claiming that data from the vehicle showed the brakes were functioning correctly. The court ordered Zhang to pay $23,000 in damages and apologize publicly. Zhang is appealing the ruling.
This incident highlights Tesla’s growing use of defamation lawsuits against individuals who criticize its vehicles. The Associated Press (AP) reports that Tesla has filed lawsuits against at least six Chinese car owners over the past four years for complaining about mechanical issues.
Tesla has also taken legal action against bloggers and media outlets that have written negatively about the company. The AP review of Chinese government court filings revealed that Tesla has sued at least eight such entities in recent years.
While Tesla has largely prevailed in these lawsuits, it has faced pressure to address customer complaints. Recently, the company released telemetry data from Zhang’s vehicle, supporting its claim that the brakes were not at fault.
This case raises concerns about Tesla’s approach to customer criticism and the potential chilling effect on freedom of expression.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
