特斯拉起诉前供应商涉嫌窃取 $1B+ 电池商业机密

Tesla has filed a bombshell lawsuit against its former supplier 马修斯国际公司, 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 路透社.

根据诉状，马修斯公司于 2019 年开始为特斯拉提供生产设备。在合作期间，特斯拉分享了有关其创新干电极涂层工艺的机密信息，该工艺可以显著降低电池工厂的规模、成本、能耗和生产时间，同时提高电池单元的能量密度和功率。

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.”

特斯拉正在寻求一项禁令，以阻止马修斯进一步滥用其商业机密、转让有问题的专利申请，以及超过 10 亿美元的赔偿金。两家公司的代表均未立即回应更多评论请求。

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.