'Tesla Vs Tesla': US EV Maker Moves Delhi HC Against Gurugram-Based Firm Over Trademark Infringement

US electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc has initiated legal proceedings against Gurugram-based Tesla Power India, accusing it of trademark infringement.

The lawsuit, filed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday, alleges that Tesla Power India's use of the 'Tesla' name is causing confusion among consumers and harming Tesla Inc.'s business interests in the country.

Appearing for Tesla Inc, senior counsel Chander Lall argued before the Court that the complaints against Tesla Power batteries are being directed to the US firm as consumers are assuming that these are associated with Tesla Inc.

He claimed that Tesla Power had been advertising its batteries in national dailies as an EV company and had been using the foreign firm’s logo.

Lall sought urgent action against Tesla Power's use of the Tesla trademark and its passing off, citing potential damage to their brand and business interests in India.

Justice Anish Dayal issued notice to Tesla Power on the US firm’s petition and restrained Tesla Power from publishing any promotional advertisements featuring EV products with a similar Tesla trademark till 22 May, the next date of hearing, Economic Times reported.

However, the HC said that Tesla Inc had not shown any urgency in the matter as it was communicating with Tesla Power since 2020 over the alleged illegal use of its trademark.

In its defence, Tesla Power argued that its operations focus on selling lead-acid batteries for conventional vehicles and inverters, not manufacturing EVs.

Kavinder Khurana, Chairman of Tesla Power India, who was personally present in the court, said that it would not be manufacturing or marketing its EV under Tesla brand, but it had a partnership firm in the US.

He further explained that the contentious advertisement featuring the Tesla trademark was related to another company, e-Ashwa, with whom Tesla Power has a strategic partnership to sell branded products.

According to Khurana, Tesla Power had been in business since several years and has over million customers in India.

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