Tesla hit by patent infringement lawsuit over electric semi truck design

Nikola Motor, a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company Tesla for infringing on several of its patents.

The patents in question are for the fuselage, mid-entry door and wraparound windshield Nikola designed for its own driverless electric vehicle, the cell-powered, hydrogen-fuelled Class 8 truck, which it revealed in May 2016.

Four months later, a recruiter for Tesla, Aaron Hoyos, allegedly tried to headhunt Nikola’s chief engineer, Kevin Lynk.

Nikola Motors demanded that Tesla not proceed with the unveiling of the Tesla Semi in 2017 until the patent infringement issue was resolved, but Tesla never responded, according to Nikola.

However, Tesla are dismissive of the allegations: “It’s patently obvious there is no merit to this lawsuit,” said a spokesperson.

(Source: Fortune)