Overview
- The single-judge bench of Justice Tejas Karia ordered on November 24 that Tesla Power India's earlier undertaking not to manufacture or market EVs using 'Tesla'‑form marks will continue until final disposal of the suit.
- The interim order restrains use of 'Tesla Power' and 'Tesla Power USA' in any medium, covering advertising, internet and e‑commerce, and extends to selling or dealing in lead‑acid batteries, inverters and UPS.
- The court found a strong prima facie case based on 'triple identity'—identical marks, related goods and common trade channels—with 'TESLA' deemed the dominant and identical element.
- The judgment recorded that trademark law does not require proof of actual confusion, while noting examples of consumers and media mistakenly linking the Indian company to Tesla Inc.
- Tesla Power India argued it uses the mark for batteries and not EVs and pointed to third‑party uses, but the court rejected these defenses and noted the company’s adoption appeared to ride on Tesla’s goodwill.