Summary
– Tesla China wins lawsuit against Model 3 protester
– Ms. Zhang ordered to apologize and pay damages
– Ms. Zhang claimed brake failure led to collision
– Ms. Zhang did not provide evidence to support her claims
– Court rules in favor of Tesla, deems protest defamation
Article
Tesla China has won a trial against a Model 3 owner, Ms. Zhang, who protested at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show by claiming that Tesla’s vehicles had faulty brakes. The court ordered Ms. Zhang to apologize to Tesla and pay damages of over $23,000. This represents a significant development in the three-year-old lawsuit and highlights the consequences of making unsubstantiated claims against a company.
During the protest at the auto show, Ms. Zhang climbed onto a Model 3 and alleged that Tesla’s vehicles had brake failures. This led to widespread media coverage and skepticism from Tesla critics. Ms. Zhang’s claims stemmed from an accident involving her father driving a Model 3 in April 2021. She insisted that the vehicle’s brakes were at fault, despite a police investigation concluding that the driver was responsible for not maintaining a safe distance.
Ms. Zhang’s failure to provide evidence supporting her brake failure claims and her admission during the trial that her statements were subjective worked against her case. The court ruled that she did not use objective language in her public statements and deliberately sought to damage Tesla’s reputation by protesting at a high-profile event like the Shanghai Auto Show. The lack of proof for her claims led to the court siding with Tesla against the defamation accusations.
Tesla’s complaint against Ms. Zhang emphasized the lack of evidence to support her protest, which it deemed as defamation. The court agreed with Tesla’s argument, stating that Ms. Zhang’s actions were based on subjective intentions and had no objective basis to prove her brake failure claims. Despite her defense that she was not at fault subjectively, the court rejected it in favor of Tesla’s position, highlighting the importance of presenting factual evidence in such cases.
This legal victory for Tesla in China reinforces the importance of factual evidence and objective statements when making public claims against companies. Ms. Zhang’s protest at the Shanghai Auto Show had significant consequences, leading to damages and an order to apologize to Tesla. The outcome serves as a reminder of the risks involved in making unsubstantiated allegations that can damage a company’s reputation and credibility. Tesla’s successful defense in this case sets a precedent for accountability and integrity in public statements.
Read the full article here
