Tesla's Lawsuit Against Rivian Gets Greenlight From Judge
A few years back, Tesla filed a lawsuit against Rivian, claiming that it stole trade secrets when it hired its ex-employees. The suit alleges that Rivian encouraged information thefts despite knowing that Tesla’s former workers were covered by confidentiality agreements. Things just got a bit more frustrating for Rivian, as a judge recently denied the automaker’s request to dismiss the suit.
Rivian denies Tesla’s claims, but the judge said, "Tesla’s evidence establishes that some Rivian employees were less thoroughly investigated and not disciplined.”
Despite that, Rivian said it had investigated the accusations and taken corrective actions. The judge’s decision opens the door for a trial to begin, but there is a hearing today before the ruling is finalized.
Proprietary tech and design work are some of the most valuable assets automakers have, especially those focused exclusively on electric vehicles. Tesla’s long-running, established business in the sector has given it a leg up on every other upstart automaker, so it’s not surprising to see it aggressively pursuing Rivian over what it perceives as theft.
That said, Rivian has praised Tesla for its charging network and has begun the process of enabling its vehicles to charge on Tesla Superchargers. The automaker is looking to accelerate its operations in late 2024 after stopping production at its Normal, Ill. factory for retooling and upgrades.
[Images: Rivian and Tesla]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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