Tesla has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a 2022 accident in China that resulted in two fatalities and three injuries, as reported by Shanghai Securities News.
The incident, which took place in November of the previous year, involved a Tesla Model Y that was alleged by a social media influencer to have malfunctioned, leading to the crash, reports Bloomberg.
Following a thorough forensic investigation, it was determined that there were no defects in the vehicle’s steering or braking systems that could have caused the accident. This information was sourced from a court document cited in the report.
The influencer, who made the allegations on Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, has been directed by the court to issue a public apology on their platform. Additionally, they have been ordered to compensate Tesla 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,100) for the damage caused to the company’s reputation.
This favorable ruling for Tesla in China comes on the heels of another victory for the automaker in California. In that case, Tesla was exonerated by a 12-member jury in the first trial concerning a fatal crash that might have involved the company’s Autopilot driver-assistance system. This verdict further supports the technology, which is central to CEO Elon Musk’s strategy to lead in the electric vehicle sector.
The Chinese incident revolved around a Tesla Model Y owner who claimed the car accelerated to speeds of up to 164 kilometers per hour (102 miles per hour) over a distance of 2.6 kilometers. This sudden acceleration led to collisions with multiple vehicles and four pedestrians. Surveillance footage revealed that the car eventually came to a stop after crashing into buildings lining the street.
A terrible incident and in the end, Tesla prevails as its vehicles have all data to show what’s operating at normal before and during accidents.
