Tesla takes Tesla to court over trademark dispute – report
An Indian battery brand known as Tesla Power has had to face court over an alleged trademark breach claimed by US electric car company, Tesla.
Battery company Tesla Power India has been taken to court by car company Tesla for alleged trademark infringement.
According to a report from news outlet Reuters, US electric car giant Tesla has filed a lawsuit against Tesla Power India in a New Delhi court claiming the Indian company had violated its trademark.
The report states that a court hearing has revealed Tesla Power India had continued advertising the Tesla Power brand after a 'cease and desist' notice was issued to Tesla Power India by the car brand in April 2022.
It's understood Tesla Power India markets lead-acid batteries, and denied having any business in the electric-car sector.
While Tesla said it discovered the alleged trademark infringement in 2022, a spokesperson for Tesla Power India told Reuters it had been operating in the country "much before" the car company had a presence there.
"We have never claimed to be related to Elon Musk's Tesla," Tesla Power's Manoj Pahwa told Reuters.
However, Tesla – the car company incorporated in Delaware, USA – claims it already owned both 'Telsa Power USA' and 'Tesla Power' trademarks, and was "acknowledged for being a pioneer and leader in introducing affordable batteries" with "a very strong presence in India", the report says.
In late April 2024, Tesla CEO Elon Musk cancelled a planned visit to India to meet with the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi – a move many pundits considered a public snub.
Musk used his time to instead meet with officials in China to discuss rolling out semi-autonomous software used in its cars within the country.
The trademark case will continue in New Delhi later this month.
