Liu Tao, co-CEO of IM Motors, has issued a public apology to Tesla China concerning remarks made in 2022 that incorrectly suggested a Tesla vehicle was defective after a fatal traffic accident in Chaozhou, China. Subsequent investigations revealed the accident was not caused by brake failure on Tesla’s part, contrary to his initial assertions.
IM Motors Co-CEO Issues Public Apology
Liu Tao released a statement addressing comments made after a significant traffic incident in Chaozhou, Guangdong province, in November 2022. He explained that at the time, based on limited public information, he posted on Weibo suggesting a safety issue with the Tesla involved. Liu has since clarified that these initial comments were inaccurate.
“On November 17, 2022, based on limited publicly available information, I posted a Weibo post regarding a major traffic accident that occurred in Chaozhou, suggesting that the Tesla product involved in the accident posed a safety hazard. Four hours later, I deleted the post. In May 2023, according to the traffic police’s accident liability determination and relevant forensic opinions, the Chaozhou accident was not caused by Tesla brake failure.
“The aforementioned findings and opinions regarding the investigation conclusions of the Chaozhou accident corrected the erroneous statements I made in my previous Weibo post, and I hereby clarify and correct them. I apologize for the negative impact my inappropriate remarks made before the facts were ascertained, which caused Tesla,” Liu stated.
Investigation Confirms No Tesla Malfunction
The Chaozhou accident, which occurred in Raoping County in November 2022, resulted in two fatalities and three injuries. Viral video footage at the time depicted a Tesla accelerating at high speed before colliding with multiple vehicles and pedestrians. Reports indicated the vehicle reached speeds of up to 198 kilometers per hour.
The incident garnered significant public attention due to conflicting accounts and the gradual release of investigation details. While initial investigation results were reported in early 2023, a subsequent request for re-investigation by the vehicle owner delayed the final liability determination.
The case resurfaced later in 2023 when Tesla China filed a defamation lawsuit against a media outlet. A court judgment, as cited by Shanghai Securities News, confirmed that forensic analysis determined the fatal accident was unrelated to any malfunction in the Tesla’s braking or steering systems. The court ordered the media outlet to issue an apology, address the reputational damage to Tesla China, and pay a penalty of 30,000 yuan.