Tesla sues Fisker over design ideas

Tesla Motors can't seem to keep itself out of the press, can it? The newest flare-up concerns rival Fisker and claims that the automaker has stolen trade secrets and copied design concepts.

In a lawsuit filed Monday by Tesla, the carmaker accuses Henrik Fisker -- whom the company had hired to design its WhiteStar sedan -- of accepting the work to "gain access to confidential design information and trade secrets."

The company alleges that Fisker then used that knowledge to launch a competing vehicle, and believes Fisker has implemented its range-extended vehicle (or REV) technology in the recently introduced Karma. "I think it's ironic that Fisker chose to name his car the Karma, when what he's done is very bad karma," said the company's lawyer.

Fisker wouldn't comment on the case, then drove silently away when pressed.
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cdoke - 4/15/2008 5:16:43 PM

+1 Boost

I have been a bit wary of Henrik Fisker since the DB9. He was far too eager to take all the credit for the DB9, when, in fact, the DB9 was essentially completed when Fisker took over at Aston Martin and that the design was only “slightly modified” by Fisker.

Now, what exactly, “slightly modified” entails I do not know, but I would really like to see what Callum’s design was before Fisker modified it.

urbansouljah - 4/15/2008 10:47:04 PM

+1 Boost

Henrik Fisker did not design the DB9. He just took the credit for it. Ian Callum and his design team designed the car and Fisker came in near the end to add a few touches to it.

urbansouljah - 4/15/2008 10:53:25 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry I'm sleepy. lol

urbansouljah - 4/15/2008 10:59:01 PM

+1 Boost

To add to what you were saying, I also read that the V8 Vantage was also originally Callum's design but was more influenced by Fisker than the DB9 was.

urbansouljah - 4/15/2008 10:48:36 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry. Ignore that post.