NEW DELHI, May 4: Tesla, the renowned carmaker helmed by Elon Musk, has initiated legal action against an Indian battery manufacturer for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed in a New Delhi court, seeks damages and a permanent injunction against the company, citing its use of the brand name “Tesla Power” to promote its products.
Details of the proceedings, disclosed on the Delhi High Court’s website, indicate that Tesla accused the Indian company, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd, of persistently advertising its products under the “Tesla Power” brand, despite receiving a cease-and-desist notice in April 2022.
During the court hearing, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd defended its position, asserting that its primary business revolves around producing lead-acid batteries and has no intention of venturing into electric vehicles.
The presiding judge granted the Indian firm three weeks to furnish written responses after it submitted a set of supporting documents in its defense.
Tesla, incorporated in Delaware, has accused the Indian company of employing trade names “Tesla Power” and “Tesla Power USA.” The court record included website screenshots indicating the presence of Tesla Power USA LLC, headquartered in Delaware, and its purported achievements in the battery sector, particularly in India.
In response, a representative from Tesla Power emphasized that the company had been operating in India long before Elon Musk’s Tesla entered the market and reiterated that it had all necessary government approvals. Manoj Pahwa from Tesla Power clarified, “We have never claimed to be related to Elon Musk’s Tesla.”
Tesla informed the court that it discovered the Indian company’s use of its brand name in 2022 and made unsuccessful attempts to halt such usage, ultimately leading to the filing of the lawsuit.
This legal development follows Elon Musk’s cancellation of his scheduled visit to India on April 21, intended to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subsequently, Musk made an unexpected trip to China, where progress was made toward the rollout of Tesla’s advanced driver assistance package, a move viewed by many Indian commentators as a snub.
The next hearing for the Tesla India trademark case is scheduled for May 22.