Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Failed ransomware attack targeting Tesla
Issue disclosure
In August 2020, Tesla was the target of an attempted ransomware attack. According to the source, a Tesla employee notified the company, which then contacted the FBI. The plot was thwarted in an FBI sting operation. The source does not report that any Tesla data was accessed or taken. The event is recorded as a failed ransomware attack against Tesla; no further details on the perpetrators, the specific demands, or the outcome of any legal proceedings are provided in the source.
Tesla was targeted in an attempted ransomware attack in August. A Tesla employee notified the company, which contacted the FBI; the plot was thwarted in an FBI sting operation. The source does not report that Tesla data was accessed or taken.
Source excerpt
Tesla owner Elon Musk has confirmed that the company was the target of a "serious" ransomware attack that was thwarted in a Federal Bureau of Investigation sting investigation in August.
The employee instead notified Tesla, which contacted the FBI.
The Justice Department published a legal complaint Thursday detailing an alleged attempt by Russian national Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, who tried to bribe a Tesla employee to install malware in the company's network.
2020
Munich court rules against Tesla over Autopilot claims
Ruling
A Munich court ruled against Tesla over its Autopilot claims. The court found that Tesla had promised Level 5 fully autonomous driving by the end of 2019, although Autopilot remained a Level 2 system. The court also said that fully autonomous driving systems were not legal in Germany. The ruling addressed the gap between Tesla's stated promise of full autonomy and the actual capability of its Autopilot feature at the time.
A Munich court ruled that Tesla had promised Level 5 fully autonomous driving by the end of 2019, although Autopilot remained a Level 2 system. The court also said fully autonomous driving systems were not legal in Germany.
Source excerpt
The court also said it’s impossible for Tesla to make such promises since fully autonomous driving systems are not legal in Germany and there is no official framework for self-driving cars.
According to Competition Center, a German regulatory institution focused on fair competition, a Munich court declared Tesla’s statement promised Level 5 fully autonomous driving by the end of 2019.
Tesla was ordered to refund the cost of the car and pay damages of three times the purchase price – taking the total payout to more than 1.5 million yuan, according to the copy of the ruling Han posted.
2020
Tesla faces class-action lawsuit alleging suspension-safety cover-up
Lawsuit filed
Tesla was named in a class-action lawsuit filed in California federal court. According to the filing, drivers accused the automaker of covering up concerns about suspension safety. The lawsuit was reported on November 25, 2020. The complaint centers on allegations that Tesla concealed issues related to suspension safety rather than disclosing them to drivers. The filing was made in federal court in California, where the drivers brought their claims as a class action against the automaker.
Tesla was sued in a class-action filing in California federal court. Drivers accused the automaker of covering up concerns about suspension safety.
Source excerpt
Tesla is also being sued in class action filing in California federal court. Drivers accuse carmaker of covering up concerns over suspension safety
2020
Tesla files lawsuit against self-media outlets
Lawsuit filed
Tesla filed a lawsuit against self-media outlets in connection with criticism of its product quality and parts traceability management. The dispute concerned commentary published by self-media accounts questioning the company's product quality and its management of parts traceability. Tesla responded to that criticism through legal action rather than through a public statement alone. The available record identifies the filing and the subject of the criticism but does not specify the outlets named, the court involved, the relief sought, or the outcome of the proceedings. The event is noted as an instance of a company pursuing litigation over media criticism of its quality and traceability practices.
Company response
Denial — Tesla China
特斯拉严格按照相关法律法规要求进行生产制造和一致性管理，不存在所谓“为产量不惜降低质量”的现象。
Source excerpt
12月28日，特斯拉方面已经对相关自媒体发起诉讼。
据特斯拉相关部门正式回应，确有此事，并且于今日正式向法院提交诉讼。
至于起诉原因，据特斯拉透露应为测试数据作假
2020
Tesla directors agree to $60 million settlement in SolarCity shareholder suit
Settlement
Tesla’s directors agreed to pay $60 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit over the company’s acquisition of SolarCity. The article says a pension fund opposing the transaction might continue a March trial against Elon Musk over alleged nondisclosure of SolarCity’s financial difficulties.
Source excerpt
上月底，特斯拉所有董事均同意赔偿6000万美元，和解股东对公司收购SolarCity的诉讼。
Tesla has agreed to pay $1.5 million in a lawsuit over claims the company reduced the battery voltage in some vehicles via software.
According to , Tesla is paying $1.5 million over claims an over-the-air software update temporarily reduced battery voltage in 1,743 Model S vehicles.
2020
Court denies Tesla's request for employee-related materials
Ruling
A U.S. federal judge denied Tesla's request to access jury materials related to a former Apple engineer and other materials sought in litigation involving Xpeng. The article reports that the judge characterized the requested materials as speculative and uncertain.
Source excerpt
联邦法官周三拒绝了这些要求，在一项公告中，美国地方法院法官文斯·贾布里亚（Vince Chhabria）表示，特斯拉的请求材料“具有投机性和不确定性”。
据报道，前苹果工程师在加入小鹏汽车之前可能窃取了商业机密。
2020
Tesla faces consumer dissatisfaction over Model 3 price cut
Public backlash
The article reported that some recent Tesla buyers were dissatisfied after the Model 3 price reduction; one owner said a salesperson had assured her the price would not fall, and a legal professional said concealing known price-cut information from consumers could violate consumer protection law.
Source excerpt
面对特斯拉官方轻描淡写的调价解释，部分刚刚购买了特斯拉产品的消费者显然不满。
但是从保护消费者权益来说，特斯拉公司工作人员为了推销产品，采取了不正当的价格行为，确实有违《消费者权益保护法》的规定，比如特斯拉销售人员在降价之前便已得到消息，却又对消费者刻意隐瞒。
2020
Court rules Tesla committed fraud in used-car sale
Ruling
A Chinese court ruled at first instance that Tesla committed fraud in selling a used Model S and ordered it to refund the buyer's 379,700 yuan purchase price and pay 1,139,100 yuan in compensation. Tesla appealed, and the second-instance hearing had concluded by the time of the report.
Source excerpt
因此法院一审判决裁定，特斯拉公司符合欺诈的客观要件和主观条件，认定其行为构成欺诈。
2020年12月4日，来自天津的特斯拉车主韩先生（化名）收到了法院的一审判决书，判决书内容显示：特斯拉公司构成欺诈，应向韩某（韩先生）退还379700元购车款，并依照《消费者权益保护法》规定赔偿1139100元。
车主韩先生表示，一审宣判之后，特斯拉方面已提起上诉，目前二审庭审已进行完毕，审限截止日期为2021年5月3日。
2020
Tesla seeks additional discovery from Xpeng in trade-secrets lawsuit
Lawsuit filed
Tesla sought to compel Xpeng to disclose its autonomous-driving source code, provide computer hard-drive images, and make an employee available for an interview in the existing lawsuit over alleged theft of Tesla trade secrets. Xpeng said it had cooperated with earlier requests and that there was no evidence Tesla trade secrets had been disclosed to it.
Company response
Clarification — 小鹏汽车
小鹏汽车表示，特斯拉最新的各种需求和行动并没有改变这样的一个事实，即没有任何证据表明特斯拉的商业机密被泄露给了小鹏汽车。
Investigation — 小鹏汽车
小鹏汽车表示，在获悉本案起诉当日，就聘请专业第三方进行法律取证调查，法政调查、分析没有迹象表明任何特斯拉的源代码，商业机密或受保护的机密信息被传输到小鹏汽车公司及其系统。
Source excerpt
小鹏汽车表示，特斯拉最新的各种需求和行动并没有改变这样的一个事实，即没有任何证据表明特斯拉的商业机密被泄露给了小鹏汽车。
特斯拉要求法官迫使这家位于中国广州的电动汽车制造商，公开其自动驾驶源代码、上交电脑硬盘图像，甚至要求涉案员工接受面谈。
在4月17日的一份法庭文件中，特斯拉引用了曹广志发给朋友的短信，称“为了拿到文件”，小鹏汽车和张小浪必须“在价格上达成一致”。
2020
Tesla addresses Model 3 hardware mismatch in China
Issue disclosure
Tesla China said that some China-made standard-range Model 3 vehicles had been fitted with HW2.5 hardware during a period of supply-chain constraints, although their environmental information lists showed HW3.0. It said it would provide eligible owners with free HW3.0 replacements and apologized for the concern caused.
Company response
Remediation — 特斯拉中国
随着产能以及供应链恢复，我们将按计划陆续为控制器硬件为HW2.5的中国制造标准续航升级版Model 3的车主提供免费更换HW3.0的服务
Apology — 特斯拉中国
对于部分热爱特斯拉的车主因此而产生的困扰深表歉意和理解
Source excerpt
近日，特斯拉中国接到部分中国制造标准续航里程升级版Model 3车主反映其车辆控制器硬件代码与环保信息随车清单上标注不一致
北京时间2020年3月3日10点28分，特斯拉发布声明，将为国产Model 3用户免费更换HW3.0的服务。
期间基于供应链状况，一部分标准续航升级版Model 3安装的硬件为HW2.5。
2020
Tesla responds to allegations about its China operations
Company response
Tesla vice president Tao Lin responded to an article alleging that Tesla used nonconforming parts and had poor working conditions and management practices, calling the article far-fetched. She said Tesla's legal team was preparing to sue the publication Pinwan; the source does not report that a lawsuit was filed.
Company response
Denial — 特斯拉
这文章编织的如此离谱，已经超出我们的想象力了，槽点太多都不知该从哪里开始说了。
Source excerpt
对于有文章质疑特斯拉使用不合格零件、包工头管理风格等问题，12月26日，特斯拉公司副总裁陶琳发微博回应称：“这文章编织的如此离谱，已经超出我们的想象力了，槽点太多都不知该从哪里开始说了。我们的法务已经在准备起诉品玩，相信他会对自己的言行所造成的影响承担责任。”
该文章称特斯拉上海工厂为完成产能将不合格的零件装车；特斯拉福利差、是一座血泪工厂；特斯拉高管管理风格粗暴、盛行包工头文化等。
该文章称特斯拉上海工厂为完成产能将不合格的零件装车，特斯拉高管管理风格粗暴、盛行包工头文化等。
2019
Father sues Tesla over fatal crash
Lawsuit filed
James B. Riley sued Tesla over a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S. The lawsuit alleges the crash should have been survivable and claims the battery pack and removal of the speed limiter contributed to the deaths.
Company response
Remediation — Tesla
我们正在协助车主处理车辆维修和理赔事宜。
Recall — Tesla
Tesla will send the owners of the 89 cars a mailed notice.
Source excerpt
James B. Riley, the father of the driver, is now suing Tesla for the crash, which the lawsuit alleges should have been “entirely survivable,”
Both of the suits blame the car’s lithium-Ion battery pack for the occupants’ deaths, since it exploded upon impact with the brick wall.
The lawsuit also says the accident occurred because “the speed limiter was removed without their consent or permission.”
2019
Tesla sues Fryer’s Towing Service over sale of recovered vehicle
Lawsuit filed
Tesla sued Fryer’s Towing Service, alleging that the company sold a Tesla vehicle that had been recovered after being stolen from a dealership, despite knowing the vehicle belonged to Tesla of Florida. The dispute concerns the sale of the recovered vehicle by the towing service.
Source excerpt
Fryer’s Towing Service sold a Tesla worth about $75,000 after the electric SUV was stolen from a dealership and recovered in Port Orange despite knowing that the vehicle belonged to Tesla of Florida, according to a lawsuit filed in Volusia County Circuit Court.
2019
Walmart and Tesla settle solar-panel dispute
Settlement
Walmart and Tesla announced that they had resolved the issues raised by Walmart in its lawsuit over rooftop solar systems after fires were alleged at seven Walmart stores. The settlement terms were not disclosed.
Source excerpt
Walmart has dropped a lawsuit that accused Tesla of breach of contract and gross negligence after rooftop solar panel systems on seven of the retailer’s stores allegedly caught fire.
A settlement has been reached and stipulation of dismissal has been filed with the court, a Walmart spokesperson said in an email.
The two companies issued a joint release Tuesday announcing that the issues raised by Walmart have been resolved.
2019
Awan family files wrongful-death suit against Tesla
Lawsuit filed
Omar Awan's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Tesla. The suit alleges that the car's door handles were retracted and did not auto-present, preventing an officer from rescuing Awan after a crash; the family is seeking more than $15,000 in damages. These are allegations in the lawsuit.
Source excerpt
Last week, the 48-year-old's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla. According to the suit, car's door handles were retracted and didn't 'auto-present'.
Family says because Tesla's handles didn't work, officer was unable to save Awan.
Liliana Awan filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the automaker on behalf of her husband, 48-year-old Dr. Omar Awan, stating that the vehicle’s handles failed to automatically extend from their retracted positions after his car caught on fire in a crash, preventing police from rescuing him.
2019
NHTSA reviews Tesla defect petition
Investigation
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a formal review of a consumer petition alleging that Tesla failed to issue a recall notice when it updated software in about 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in May. The review was to assess the petition's claims; the article does not report a determination on them.
Stated objective. To assess the consumer's requests in the petition.
Source excerpt
该请愿书称特斯拉公司在5月份发布2000辆Model S型和Model X型汽车的软件升级时未能发出故障车辆召回通知。
美国交管局周五表示，它已经开始正式审查，以评估消费者在请愿书中的诉求。
2019
Cobalt-mining child labor lawsuit names five technology companies
Lawsuit filed
A lawsuit filed on behalf of 14 families from the Democratic Republic of the Congo accused Tesla, Apple, Alphabet, Dell Technologies and Microsoft of complicity in child labor connected to cobalt mining, including deaths and serious injuries. The allegations are reported as claims in the complaint, not as established findings.
Source excerpt
Six of the 14 children died in tunnel collapses, and the others suffered life-altering injuries, including paralysis, according to the lawsuit.
Tesla, Apple, Google’s parent company Alphabet, Dell Technologies and Microsoft are implicated as being aware of “the forced labor system that has brought grave harm to the Congolese minors,” according to the original legal complaint.
The legal complaint on behalf of 14 families from the Democratic Republic of Congo was filed on Dec. 15 by International Rights Advocates, a U.S.-based human-rights nonprofit, Fortune reported.
2019
Shareholder lawsuit allegations over SolarCity acquisition disclosed
Issue disclosure
Court documents made public on Monday disclosed shareholder allegations that Tesla improperly valued its 2016 acquisition of SolarCity, provided flawed analysis, and misled investors. Tesla rejected the allegations as false and misleading. The lawsuit was already pending; the documents reported new details about the dispute.
Company response
Denial — Tesla
此外，该公司还对指控予以驳斥，表示这些指控不仅虚假并且还具有误导性。
Source excerpt
北京时间9月24日消息，据国外媒体报道，周一公布的法庭文件显示，包括一些养老基金在内的许多特斯拉大型投资者认为，特斯拉在2016年斥资26亿美元收购SolarCity的交易本不应该发生。根据股东就特斯拉收购案提起的这起诉讼的开场摘要，股东们指责特斯拉对这笔交易的估值不当，提供有缺陷的分析并误导投资者。
此外，该公司还对指控予以驳斥，表示这些指控不仅虚假并且还具有误导性。
2018
Funding-secured statement and SEC settlement
Musk’s public statement that he was considering taking Tesla private led to SEC litigation and shareholder lawsuits. Musk and Tesla each paid civil penalties, and Musk relinquished the board-chair role while remaining CEO.