Tesla verklagt Ex-Zulieferer wegen angeblichen Diebstahls des Geschäftsgeheimnisses der Batterie $1B+

Tesla has filed a bombshell lawsuit against its former supplier Matthews International, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets related to electric vehicle battery technology and sharing them with Tesla’s competitors. The suit, filed Friday in California federal court, claims damages exceeding $1 billion, reports Reuters.

Laut der Beschwerde begann Matthews im Jahr 2019 damit, Tesla mit Produktionsmaschinen zu beliefern. Im Rahmen dieser Partnerschaft teilte Tesla vertrauliche Informationen über sein innovatives Trockenelektroden-Beschichtungsverfahren, mit dem die Größe der Batterieanlage, die Kosten, der Energieverbrauch und die Produktionszeit erheblich reduziert und gleichzeitig die Energiedichte und Leistung der Batteriezellen erhöht werden können.

However, Tesla alleges that Matthews betrayed their trust by selling “machines and other technologies embodying Tesla’s trade secrets” to unnamed rivals. The lawsuit also asserts that Matthews tried to claim Tesla’s inventions as its own in patent filings, revealing sensitive Tesla data.

In a statement Monday, Matthews called the lawsuit “simply a new tactic in their ongoing efforts to bully Matthews and improperly take Matthews’ valuable intellectual property.” The supplier vowed to “vigorously defend the matter.”

Tesla fordert eine einstweilige Verfügung, um Matthews am weiteren Missbrauch seiner Geschäftsgeheimnisse zu hindern, die Übertragung fragwürdiger Patentanmeldungen und über $1 Milliarde Schadensersatz. Vertreter beider Unternehmen reagierten nicht sofort auf Bitten um zusätzliche Kommentare.

EVXL’s Take

This high-stakes legal battle underscores the cutthroat competition and intellectual property wars raging in the rapidly evolving EV industry. As major automakers like Tesla race to develop cheaper, more efficient, longer-lasting batteries, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

If the allegations prove true, Matthews’ actions represent a serious breach of trust and confidentiality that could have far-reaching implications for Tesla’s battery tech advantage and the broader EV market. The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched and could set important precedents around trade secret protections in the industry.

While legal fights like this can be ugly, they are often a necessary evil to defend hard-earned innovations and maintain a level playing field. Ultimately, the biggest winners will hopefully be consumers, who stand to benefit from continuous battery advancements that make EVs more affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly.