In a legal battle over name infringement, electric automaker Tesla has sued Indian company Tesla Power for using its well-known brand name for promotional purposes. The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction and damages, as Tesla Power has been promoting its products without any actual affiliation to the renowned U.S.-based car manufacturer.

The case is currently being heard in the Delhi High Court, where arguments from both sides are being presented. However, this is not the first time Tesla has approached Tesla Power regarding the unauthorized use of its name. In April 2022, Tesla sent a cease-and-desist notice to the Indian company, urging them to discontinue the use of the Tesla name. Despite this, Tesla Power continued to market its products under the brand name, claiming that it should be allowed to do so as they have no intention of manufacturing electric vehicles, according to Reuters.

What makes this case particularly interesting is that Tesla Power operates not only in India but also in Delaware, the same state where Tesla is currently registered. Additionally, the Indian company uses the names Tesla Power USA and Tesla Power, further adding to the accusations made in the lawsuit.

Defending itself, Tesla Power argues that its line of business primarily focuses on manufacturing lead-acid batteries and not electric vehicles, thus claiming that there is no case of infringement. However, Tesla has been attempting to establish a presence in India for several years, leading to speculation that the Indian company may have sought to capitalize on these rumors for some financial gain, although this cannot be proven.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had plans to expand the company into India in April. However, he canceled his visit just a week before he was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Instead, Musk flew to China, where he gained approval for Tesla's Full Self-Driving suite.

As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain. Tesla seeks not only to protect its brand but also to establish its presence in the Indian market, while Tesla Power maintains that its business operations do not pose an infringement upon the renowned automaker's name. Only time will tell how the court will resolve this contentious issue.