Tesla Motors Sues Fisker for Stealing EV Secrets

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams

It's hard to keep track of what's going on between Tesla and Fisker. But if you've got the time… First, Tesla mouthpiece Daryl Siry trash talks Fisker's range-extended vehicle, the Karma. After Fisker unveils their EV prototype at the Detroit Auto Show, Siry wonders if his rival's got what it takes to make it so. Next, Tesla's hires Henrik Fisker to design Tesla's Whitestar sedan. And now CNet News reports that Tesla is taking Fisker to court for stealing trade secrets and copying design ideas. Tesla's suit alleges that Fisker accepted the design contract "to gain access to confidential design information and trade secrets, then announced a competing vehicle." Fisker's brief had no comment on the case, other than "the firm's policy [is] not to comment on litigation." Meanwhile, Tesla says they've scrapped Fisker's design for the Whitestar in a fit of pique favor of… something else. On the positive side, this intra-vaporware legal contretemps will provide Tesla for a convenient excuse when the Whitestar doesn't appear as promised. And for us, the case could expose the reality behind Tesla's endless hype. [Props to JT for the link]

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  • Anonymous Anonymous on Apr 15, 2008

    Which trade secret did they steal? How to fool investors? Or, how to make the auto media your lap dogs?

  • Conslaw Conslaw on Apr 15, 2008

    It's kind of like watching yourimaginary friend fight the invisible man.

  • Jthorner Jthorner on Apr 16, 2008

    Asia is cranking out engineers while the US is cranking out lawyers. Guess which group creates new technology and new products? All we need now is a Zap Press Release putting themselves in the middle of the Tesla fiasco. Companies like Tesla give Silicon Valley a bad name.

  • Stein X Leikanger Stein X Leikanger on Apr 16, 2008

    "Damn you, Fisker! You stole our incredibly top secret superteleportation blueprints. We must have them back, the fate of the planet depends on them. Please?"

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