The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed Gurugram-based Tesla Power India to file an affidavit detailing the stocks and sales of their electric vehicle scooters. This includes providing the names of dealers, dates of launch, and current stock availability.
The court’s directives came in response to a petition filed by electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc. in a trademark infringement suit against Tesla Power India.
The high court will now hear the case against Tesla Power on Thursday.
Tesla Inc. argued that the local firm’s use of the trademark in India was not only causing confusion among consumers but also harming its business interests. The company submitted that complaints against Tesla Power batteries were being directed to the US firm because consumers assumed they were associated with Tesla Inc.
Elon Musk‘s company claimed that Tesla Power had been advertising its batteries in national dailies as an EV company and had been using its logo.
Tesla Inc.’s counsel 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.
Tesla Power argued that it is not manufacturing EV batteries but rather selling lead acid batteries used in conventional vehicles and inverters.
Kavinder Khurana, Chairman of Tesla Power India, had earlier told the court that it would not be manufacturing or marketing its EVs under the Tesla brand. He mentioned that Tesla Power has a partnership firm in the US.
He clarified that the company had no plans to enter the EV market and stated that the 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 has been in business for the last four years and has over a million customers in India.
