Tesla poursuit son ancien fournisseur pour vol présumé du secret commercial de la 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.

Selon la plainte, Matthews a commencé à fournir à Tesla des machines de fabrication en 2019. Au cours de ce partenariat, Tesla a partagé des informations confidentielles sur son processus innovant de revêtement à électrodes sèches, qui peut réduire considérablement la taille, le coût, la consommation d'énergie et le temps de production des usines de batteries tout en augmentant la densité énergétique et la puissance des cellules de batterie.

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 demande une injonction pour empêcher Matthews de continuer à abuser de ses secrets commerciaux, le transfert de demandes de brevet douteuses et plus de $1 milliard de dollars de dommages-intérêts. Les représentants des deux entreprises n'ont pas répondu immédiatement aux demandes de commentaires supplémentaires.

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.