businessUpdated: Jul 23, 2020 10:20 ISTTesla Inc. accused Rivian Automotive Inc. in a lawsuit of an “alarming pattern” of poaching its employees and stealing trade secrets. The company’s 2,400 employees are split between sites in California, Michigan and a production facility in Normal, Illinois. Rivian, which has raised almost $6 billion, plans to start production of its debut battery electric R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV by mid-2021. Tesla has previously sued former employees for allegedly taking its trade secrets to China’s Xpeng Motors and Silicon Valley-based Zoox Inc. In the new suit, Tesla called itself Rivian’s “number one target from which to acquire information,” and said that Rivian has hired 178 ex-Tesla employees, roughly 70 of whom joined Rivian directly from Tesla.

Source: Hindustan Times July 23, 2020 04:30 UTC