Tesla has reportedly sued at least six owners and multiple media outlets in China who have spoken critically about the brand.
Tesla has reportedly won at least 11 defamation cases brought against owners and media outlets who have spoken critically about the electric vehicle brand in China.
An investigation by The Associated Press has revealed the Chinese division of American electric vehicle maker Tesla has sued at least six owners and multiple media outlets who have spoken critically about it.
The complaints which have led to legal action include "sudden vehicle malfunctions, quality complaints or accidents they claimed were caused by mechanical failures", the report states.
Tesla has reportedly won at least 11 cases where it has sued customers and the media, with two judgements currently on appeal and one settled out of court.
The Associated Press claims Tesla has an "aggressive" legal strategy in China with the support of powerful Chinese government leaders, including Premier Li Qiang, who is second in rank to President Xi Jinping.
Tesla isn't the only carmaker to attempt to sue its critics in China, with domestic manufacturers – including BYD, Nio and Li Auto – also reportedly bringing defamation cases against bloggers who have allegedly spread false information.
Zhang Yazhou is one Tesla owner in China who has been sued by Tesla for defamation following a protest about an alleged brake failure which she claimed caused her Tesla Model 3 to crash into two vehicles and a concrete barrier in February 2021.
The case, which is currently on appeal, saw a Chinese court order Zhang to publically apologise to Tesla and pay 170,000 yuan ($AU37,000) in damages.
"I refuse to accept [the ruling]," Zhang told The Associated Press. "As a consumer, even if I said something wrong, I have the right to comment and criticise. I spoke about my feelings as a user of the car. It has nothing to do with damaging their reputation."
Tesla was the first foreign carmaker to retain control of its Chinese operations – rather than entering into a joint-venture agreement with a domestic company – and it has contributed significantly to a rise in electrified vehicle sales in China, which now cover around 50 per cent of new-vehicle sales.
Tesla also operates factories in the United States and Germany.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
