Tesla klaagt ex-leverancier aan voor vermeende diefstal van handelsgeheim $1B+ batterij

Tesla has filed a bombshell lawsuit against its former supplier Matthews België, 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.

Volgens de aanklacht begon Matthews in 2019 met het leveren van productiemachines aan Tesla. Tijdens deze samenwerking deelde Tesla vertrouwelijke informatie over zijn innovatieve droge-elektrodecoatingproces, dat de omvang van de batterijfabriek, de kosten, het energieverbruik en de productietijd aanzienlijk kan verminderen en tegelijkertijd de energiedichtheid en het vermogen van de batterijcellen kan verhogen.

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 eist een gerechtelijk bevel om Matthews te weerhouden van verder misbruik van zijn handelsgeheimen, de overdracht van twijfelachtige patentaanvragen en meer dan $1 miljard aan geldelijke schadevergoeding. Vertegenwoordigers van beide bedrijven reageerden niet direct op verzoeken om aanvullend commentaar.

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.