New Delhi: Elon Musk-owned Tesla Motors is suing an Indian battery maker that sold products labeled as ‘Tesla Power’ over copyright infringement.

The electric vehicle (EV) maker wants “unspecified damages” and a “permanent injunction” from its Indian namesake. Tesla has claimed that the Indian battery maker continued using the brand name despite a cease-and-desist notice in April 2022.

The Indian company, attending the hearing at the Delhi High Court, argued that its main business is to make “lead acid batteries” and has no intention of entering the electric vehicle market. Musk’s firm has accused the Indian company of using trade names “Tesla Power” and “Tesla Power USA”.

The company claimed it had been operating in India much before Musk’s Tesla and had government approvals to conduct business.

Meanwhile, the judge has given ‘Tesla Power’ three weeks to submit a written response on the matter along with a set of documents in support of its defence. The case will be next heard on May 22.

The development was reported days after the Tesla CEO cancelled his planned visit to India where he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce a slew of investments in the South Indian nation. 

The Indian government has recently announced new incentives for automakers to set up manufacturing in India, and Tesla is expected to soon make its much-anticipated debut in the world’s most populous nation.

Days after cancelling his India visit, Musk travelled to China, home to one of the largest Tesla factories in the world.

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