The surprising thing is that you are winning those judgments

Luxury car manufacturers lead the extreme care for reputation of their brand and, for that reason, Ferrari or Bugatti can put in Black lists to customers They have not used their cars with due respect to which your brand represents.

However, Tesla is going much further in China. Is demanding By defamation to anyone who criticizes their cars: the most striking thing is that they are winning almost all judgments against journalists and clients disenchanted with the quality of their cars.

Without the right to complain

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X has described himself as an absolutist of freedom of expression. However, the same does not seem to comment when others who exercise that Freedom to express your anger or disappointment with the quality of the cars that Tesla manufactures in its Shanghai factory in China.

In recent months, the company has taken energetic measures against criticisms of their cars, demanding clients and journalists who express negative opinions about their products and services in the Asian country.

According to The published By Associated Press, that was the case of Zhang Yazhou, owner of a Tesla Model 3 who suffered an accident due to defective brakes that ended with his injured parents in a hospital.

After the incident, Yazhou publicly showed his indignation sitting on the roof of his injured tesla, which was waiting for repair against a Tesla dealership, with a megaphone by proclaiming the manufacturing defects of his car. On the side of the car you could read on a banner “Failure in the Tesla brakes”. The image went viral in China.

Tesla responded to Yazhou’s complaints demanding it by defamation. The Chinese court failed in favor of Tesla, condemning Yazhou to pay a compensation of $ 23,000 to the brand and to apologize publicly for its criticisms. “As a consumer, even if I said something wrong, I have the right to comment and criticize. I talked about my feelings as a car user. It has nothing to do with damaging his reputation,” Yazhou told AP.

This is not an isolated case. According to published Associated Press In another article, Tesla has won 11 of these demands presented to clients, bloggers or media that have criticized the brand, while others are in the process of appeal or have been resolved outside the courts through agreements.

One of the reasons why Tesla has achieved such a remarkable judicial support In China it is because of the support that Elon Musk’s brand receives from the Chinese government.

It should be remembered that the company was the first foreign brand to have permission to build a factory in China without the need to associate with local companies or the government. A mandatory practice that all foreign companies had to comply. In addition, Tesla enjoys advantages such as tax exemptions and better advantageous credit conditions that do not enjoy other companies.

This preferential treatment also extends to the regulatory sphere. Tesla obtained the approval of the Chinese government, Elon throughto test the FSD autonomous driving system in its territory.

This institutional support to the company directed by Elon Musk also It has its reflection in Chinese justice And according to Associated Presshas a name and surname. “The commercial and political success of Tesla in China has depended on the support of a powerful patron: Li Qiang, the former head of the Shanghai party who is now China’s prime minister,” published the American media.

The relationship between Tesla and Li Qiang has been key, since the now number two of Xi Jiping has acted several times as a facilitator in the implementation of Tesla in China, and Elon Musk boasts of your good relationship With the Chinese politician.

During a visit to the Shanghai factory in 2020, the then Secretary of the Communist Party already admitted that Tesla could count on all his support. “We will give all our support to the next construction of Tesla projects and we hope that Tesla will expand cooperation with Chinese companies in clean energy and transport.”

The Chinese market is one of the most important for Tesla. According to Tesla datadespite high competitiveness, in 2024 the model and remained as best -selling car in China with an increase of 5.24% compared to the previous year. However, 2025 has not started with good foot And the figures begin to falter with a decrease of 11.5%, As published Hybrids and electrical. Sueing those who are critical of the brand do not seem to have stopped that decrease in sales.

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Image | Tesla, Freepik (WIRESTOCK)