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4w ago

Tesla Technician Sues for $51 Million Over Alleged Robot Injury at Fremont Plant

The case spotlights safety oversight for industrial robots at highly automated factories.

A person enters a building at the Tesla car factory on May 11, 2020, in Fremont, California. A robotics technician at Tesla’s Fremont factory has sued the automaker and a robotics supplier for $51 million, alleging that a malfunctioning machine struck him and left him unconscious with serious injuries over two years ago.
A Tesla Logo is seen at the Tesla plant in Fremont. A robotics technician at the factory has sued the automaker and a robotics supplier for $51 million, alleging that a malfunctioning machine struck him and left him unconscious with serious injuries over two years ago.
A production associate works on a Tesla Model 3 at the Tesla plant on July 18, 2018 in Fremont. A robotics technician at Tesla’s Fremont factory has sued the automaker and a robotics supplier for $51 million, alleging that a malfunctioning machine struck him and left him unconscious with serious injuries over two years ago.
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Overview

  • Peter Hinterdobler filed a federal complaint in Oakland seeking $51 million after a July 22, 2023 maintenance incident at Tesla’s Fremont facility.
  • He alleges a robot’s arm released unexpectedly with the force of an approximately 8,000-pound counterbalance, knocking him unconscious and causing serious injuries.
  • The suit names Tesla and FANUC America, accusing Tesla of failing to ensure the machine was safely de-energized, secured, and stable, and alleging negligent design by FANUC.
  • Hinterdobler reports more than $1 million in medical costs to date and projects roughly $6 million more for ongoing treatment, according to the filing.
  • The complaint says the robot was placed in an area not designated for such equipment and notes Tesla later introduced machine-specific safety protocols; Tesla and FANUC have not commented.