Tesla releases data for China Model 3 crash, bowing to pressure from local regulator
- Data release follows apology on Wednesday to owner of crashed car
- Case has attracted millions who are keen to know more about EVs, analyst says
“With the data release, an investigation can be conducted into whether the crash was really caused by a brake malfunction,” said Gao Shen, an independent Shanghai-based analyst. “At least, the case has attracted the eyeballs of millions of Chinese consumers who are keen to know more about EVs.”
Tesla is the runaway leader in China’s premium EV segment. But this not its first run-in with Chinese customers and regulators about the quality and safety of its Shanghai-made cars.
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Tesla starts delivery of made-in-China cars
In December last year, online technology news portal PingWest cited unnamed workers while describing the US carmaker’s US$2 billion factory in Shanghai as “Giga-sweatshop”. It also claimed that Tesla was using substandard parts in its Shanghai-assembled Model 3. Tesla denied the claims and threatened to sue the website.
Then in February this year, its executives were summoned by five ministry-level authorities in China and grilled about the quality of its Model 3 cars.