"Deceived by Car Dealer"... Tesla Pulled by Ox for Street Protest

Protest Erupts After Platform Denies Refund Request
Platform Eventually Issues Refund Amid Growing Controversy

A driver in China purchased a Tesla vehicle secondhand through a used car platform but discovered that it could not be charged, leading to a protest. The owner attracted attention by pulling the vehicle with an ox on the road. On the 29th, foreign media including Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a car owner who bought a vehicle from the well-known used car trading platform Guazi (瓜子) protested due to a vehicle defect but, after failing to get a refund, staged a street protest.

A driver in China purchased a used Tesla vehicle on a secondhand car platform and discovered that it would not charge, leading to a protest. The owner attracted attention by pulling the vehicle along the road like a cart.
[Photo by TikTok]

The protesting owner recently purchased a used Tesla 'Model 3' from Guazi for 101,000 yuan (approximately 19.5 million KRW). However, shortly after driving the car, a warning light appeared indicating that the battery could not be charged. The vehicle was presumed to have a defective battery. It is not clearly known whether the vehicle was tested before the owner completed the purchase or how the vehicle was delivered to the owner.

Ultimately, the owner, judging the vehicle to be defective, demanded a refund or settlement from Guazi and Tesla. However, Guazi refused, prompting the owner to protest on a main road. The owner tied a rope to an ox and attached it to the Tesla vehicle, which bore a protest sign reading "Cheated by Guazi," and marched on the road, drawing the attention of passersby. After the march, the vehicle was also parked in front of a Guazi platform dealership.

On the 29th, foreign media including Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a car owner who purchased a vehicle from the famous used car trading platform Guazi protested due to vehicle defects but did not receive a refund, leading to a street demonstration.
[Photo source=TikTok]

In response, a Guazi customer service representative stated to local media that all vehicles undergo inspection before being listed on the platform, adding, "This vehicle was part of a promotion mainly sold to dealers, so the buyer was responsible for assessing the vehicle's condition and bearing the risks." According to reports, a professional inspection report on the vehicle indicated it had over 280,000 km of mileage and a history of significant damage. The vehicle was rated a D grade, with a warning to exercise caution when purchasing.

However, as the incident became known, local netizens commented, "A car that cannot be charged is basically scrap, so are they trying to sell it for 101,000 yuan?", "If an electric car can't be charged, pulling it with an ox is no different from a handcart," and "If an electric car can't be charged, isn't it just a heap of scrap metal?" One netizen sympathized with the ox used in the protest, saying, "The old ox is pitiful. Has anyone thought about how the ox feels?"

As the controversy spread, Guazi eventually processed the vehicle's return and refunded the purchase amount to the owner. Meanwhile, some local media cited expert opinions criticizing Tesla and others for monopolizing battery performance testing technology and not selling testing equipment, making it difficult for used car platforms to evaluate battery range and performance.