Newsroom
January 25th, 2016

HOERBIGER rejects Tesla accusations

Zug, January 25, 2016 - On January 19, 2016, Tesla Motors, Inc. filed suit against HOERBIGER Automotive Comfort Systems LLC, Auburn, Alabama, in the United States District Court in San Jose, California. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla terminated its business relationship with HOERBIGER because HOERBIGER failed to meet specified requirements for the hydraulic drive system for the "Falcon Wing" doors of the Tesla Model X. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla failed to meet specified requirements for the hydraulic drive system for the "Falcon Wing" doors of the Tesla Model X.

HOERBIGER strongly rejects this view.

Tesla Motors, Inc. terminated the agreements reached with HOERBIGER in May 2015. At that time, HOERBIGER Automotive Comfort Systems was ready in all respects to commence series production as agreed with Tesla on schedule.

HOERBIGER met all requirements agreed with Tesla Motors, Inc. HOERBIGER has therefore been in negotiations with Tesla since the unilateral termination for appropriate compensation for costs related to design and engineering, personnel expenses in management, development and production, as well as the establishment of material supply and production infrastructure - including contractual obligations to HOERBIGER's suppliers.

The representation in some media reports that HOERBIGER was responsible for the design of the doors of the Tesla Model X is not true. From the beginning, HOERBIGER was only commissioned with the development and production of hydraulic door drives. At no time was HOERBIGER responsible for the development of electronics and software to control the symmetrical motion sequence and to prevent overheating.

HOERBIGER Automotive Comfort Systems LLC in Auburn, Alabama, USA, is a company of the HOERBIGER Group's Hydraulic Business Division. The HOERBIGER Group is active worldwide in a leading position in the fields of compression technology, drive technology, and hydraulics. The HOERBIGER brand stands for performance-determining components in compressors, industrial engines and turbines, in automotive transmissions, and in a wide range of applications in mechanical and plant engineering.