Tesla once again finds itself at the center of controversy. A robotics engineer is suing Elon Musk’s company after being hit by a robot and suffering severe injuries. The incident occurred at Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. According to the lawsuit document accessed by The Independent, 50-year-old Peter Hinterdobler has filed a $51 million lawsuit against Tesla and FANUC, the robotics firm that makes the robot in question, after a severe workplace injury in the summer of 2023.
How the Alleged Robot Accident Happened
According to the complaint, Hinterdobler was rendered unconscious by a robotic arm, while he was helping dismantle the robot, which has since been taken off Tesla’s Model 3 assembly line. According to the court filings, “The release involved both the robotic arm’s own power and the force of an approximately 8,000-pound counterbalance weight.” This knocked Hinterdobler to the ground, causing major injuries and unconsciousness.
Hinterdobler said his medical treatment has cost more than $1 million, with $6 million more expected in the future. He’s now seeking reparations to the tune of $20 million for physical pain, suffering, and daily inconveniences, plus $10 million to cover severe emotional distress, including ongoing psychological trauma, and another $1 million as lost wages. The suit further tallies $8 million for diminished future earning potential and $5 million to cover past and future loss of household services.
Allegations Against Tesla’s Safety Practices
Hinterdobler has accused Tesla of not following safety protocols, claiming the robot was not in a designated area and wasn’t safely de-energized and secured before allowing him to disassemble it. He further added that the company implemented new safety norms after the incident. The lawsuit claims Tesla was careless with training, supervision, and safety rules, ignoring industry standards meant to prevent such accidents. Hinterdobler also names FANUC in the lawsuit, blaming them for faulty design, poor instructions, and unexpected robot failure. The injured worker further added that despite his several requests to Tesla to share the video footage of the accident, the company denied it.
A Troubled History at Fremont
Tesla’s Fremont plant has an annual capacity for up to 650,000 vehicles and builds Model Y, S, 3, and X cars. The factory has faced intense scrutiny. In 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Tesla over widespread racism. This spring, Tesla paid out in a case from a Black staffer alleging racism. In August 2025, the former security director filed an explosive suit claiming shuttle-bus rapes, cocaine parties on premises, worker fistfights, and routine bigotry. This latest lawsuit just shows that Tesla’s legal troubles are far from over.
