During a recent hearing at the Delhi High Court, Tesla, led by Elon Musk, filed a lawsuit against an Indian battery manufacturer, accusing it of trademark infringement for using the brand name "Tesla Power" to promote its products. Tesla sought damages and a permanent injunction against the company from a New Delhi judge.
According to details from the court proceedings posted on the court website, Tesla argued that despite sending a cease-and-desist notice in April 2022, the Indian company, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd, continued to advertise its products under the "Tesla Power" brand.
In response, Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd contended that its primary business was the production of "lead acid batteries" and that it had no intention of manufacturing electric vehicles.
The judge granted the Indian company three weeks to provide written responses after it submitted a set of documents supporting its defence.
Tesla, incorporated in Delaware, accused the Indian company of using the trade names "Tesla Power" and "Tesla Power USA".
Court records included screenshots of a website indicating that Tesla Power USA LLC, also based in Delaware, was recognized as a leader in affordable battery solutions with a significant presence in India.
Tesla Power did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company informed the judge that it first discovered the Indian company's use of its brand name in 2022 and had unsuccessfully attempted to prevent it, leading to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit follows Musk's cancellation of his planned visit to India in April to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His subsequent surprise visit to China and progress towards implementing advanced driver assistance technology were perceived by many Indian commentators as a snub.
The Tesla India trademark case is scheduled for further hearing on May 22.
