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Tesla (TSLA) Wins Battle to Keep Name in China

January 24, 2014 3:34 PM
Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) will be Tesla Motors in China.

According to reports out Friday, Tesla defeated a resident in China that trademarked the Tesla name in 12 different automotive categories. The resident applied for the trademarks in 2009.

Tesla previously offered the person $300,000 to get the rights back, InsideEVs noted. The resident refused, however, taking litigation to the next level.

Reuters quotes Tesla spokesperson Veronica Wu in saying, We went to court and we won. The court has given use right to use the name, which is why you see the Chinese name in our store now.

Previously, Tesla registered as Tuosule Auto Sales Co. Ltd. in China.

Tesla doesn't have plans to build a factory in China yet, as the company is staying focused on building its market up first. The company said earlier this week that China could account for 30 to 35 percent of all international sales in 2014.

Shares of Tesla are down 3.7 percent.

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