Chongqing - After a protracted four-year legal battle, Tesla owner Zhang Yazhou has finally achieved a breakthrough. On September 16, the Beijing Daxing District People's Court ruled in favor of Zhang, ordering Tesla to provide the complete driving data from the half-hour before the traffic accident on February 21, 2021.

Zhang Yazhou, standing on a Tesla vehicle, demonstrated her protest against the company at the 2021 Auto Shanghai. (Photo/Social media network)

The incident occurred on February 21, 2021, when Zhang's father was driving a Tesla Model 3 and was involved in a rear-end collision, resulting in a mild concussion for her father and soft tissue injuries to her mother. Zhang's family believes that the vehicle suffered from a "brake failure," and they allege that Tesla failed to provide complete data. This led Zhang to embark on a lengthy fight for her rights.

The court's ruling emphasized the central issue of whether it was reasonable for Zhang to request the complete driving data from 30 minutes before the accident. The court stressed that as an intelligent vehicle, Tesla's driving data is crucial for analyzing the cause of the accident.

Unlike traditional vehicles, intelligent vehicles generate data that can provide further insights into accident causes. Therefore, the court supported Zhang's request for the data, recognizing its importance for consumers.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of China's Civil Code and the Consumer Protection Law, the court ruled that Tesla Automotive Sales & Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. must provide Zhang with the complete driving data from 30 minutes before the accident within ten days of the judgment.

Although Zhang had previously received some data from Tesla, including vehicle speed and brake pedal movement signals, she maintained that the data was incomplete. Key data, such as brake pedal displacement, were not included. According to the Beijing News, Zhang stated that the data Tesla provided is insufficient to determine the truth about the accident.

According to the National Business Daily, once Zhang receives the complete set of data, she plans to apply for a judicial appraisal of its completeness and authenticity. She intends to pursue further legal action against Tesla for product quality issues based on the results.

In addition, Zhang is also involved in a defamation case against Tesla. In April 2021, during Auto Shanghai, a major auto show in China, Zhang stood on top of a Tesla vehicle and shouted "brake failure," which sparked widespread public attention. Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. subsequently filed a lawsuit against Zhang, seeking 5 million yuan in damages and accusing her of damaging the company’s reputation.

In May 2024, the Qingpu District Court in Shanghai ruled that Zhang had infringed upon Tesla's reputation and ordered her to publicly apologize and pay 172,275 yuan in compensation. Zhang, dissatisfied with the ruling, appealed the decision. In July 2025, the Shanghai Second Intermediate People's Court upheld the original judgment, ordering Zhang to apologize to Tesla and pay compensation.

The auto show incident drew significant public attention, with Tesla’s response further escalating the conflict. Tesla's Vice President for China, Tao Lin, publicly stated that "almost all of the recent negative publicity was caused by Zhang" and that the company "could not compromise" and "would not spend large amounts on public relations."

Following the incident, discussions about potential issues with Tesla's brake performance spread rapidly across Chinese social media. To this day, some consumers still believe that Tesla's braking system has significant flaws.

Despite the ongoing negative publicity, Tesla has continued to perform strongly in the Chinese market. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Tesla’s sales in April 2021 dropped sharply to 11,671 vehicles, a 67.10% decrease compared to 35,478 vehicles in March.

However, China Automotive News reported that this decline was not directly caused by the public outcry but rather by the market's seasonal sales patterns. Additionally, it was reported that Tesla’s Shanghai factory temporarily halted Model Y production for two weeks in April to upgrade equipment, which impacted both production and delivery volumes.

By May, Tesla’s sales rebounded sharply to 21,936 vehicles, initiating a strong "V-shaped" recovery. Tesla's sales in China continued to rise: 320,000 units in 2021, 440,000 units in 2022, 600,000 units in 2023, and 657,000 units in 2024, demonstrating the company's robust market resilience and brand appeal.

The court ruling requiring Tesla to provide complete data could shift the direction of Zhang’s defamation case. According to the National Business Daily, Zhang believes that the Daxing District People's Court's decision further validates the legitimacy of her actions four years ago. She stated, "I do not agree with the Shanghai Second Intermediate Court's ruling, and I will apply for a retrial in the Shanghai High Court in the future."