As concerns mount about eroding checks and balances in the U.S., Tesla’s record in China shows how Elon Musk has thrived in a system in which regulators, the media and the courts are by design intertwined.

CEO Elon Musk spent years referring to himself as a “free speech absolutist.” When he acquired Twitter (now X) in 2022, he framed the deal as necessary for preserving free speech in the United States and beyond.

But in China, Tesla has had a different approach to negative owner commentary by actually going after the people, and even the media that dared speak badly about its products. And most of the time, it has succeeded in its quests quite remarkably.

It’s not common for automakers – in China or elsewhere -- to sue their own customers. But Tesla has done so successfully in China, where Elon Musk’s company has used the courts and the patronage of a powerful leader to silence critics, reap financial rewards and limit its accountability.