There is more to the lawsuit that meets the eye: in May this year, during the first quarter results conference, Musk claimed to not know of Hoerbiger when asked by Reuters.
As per available court records, Tesla Motors Co. and a U.S subsidiary of Hoerbiger, an auto supplier from Switzerland have agreed on Tesla’s settlement terms for Tesla’s Model X’s “falcon wing” doors.
Both parties have until October 13 to file a joint statement as to the status of the settlement, the terms of which have yet to be disclosed.
As per a filing by both companies, there has been a delay for filing a dismissal since certain conditions of the settlement are likely to be fulfilled only after October 4, as per a filing dated August 18.
Lawyers for both companies haven’t returned calls seeking comments.
Earlier this year in January, Tesla had claimed that Hoerbiger’s hydraulic system which it developed in 2014-2015 for the use in the Tesla Model X doors, were riddled with deficiencies. These made the doors an “unworkable engineering solution”. Moreover, it also added costs and “more than a year of wasted efforts.”
The lawsuit over the creation of the jaw-dropping doors shone a spotlight on the complex intricacies of Tesla’s engineering marvel and its dependent relationship with its suppliers.
Elon Musk, Tesla Motors Co.’s CEO has stated that the Model X was “the hardest car to build in this world.”
Subsequently, when the Tesla Model X was launched in September 2015, with the Tesla’s revised door designs, which used electro-mechanical parts instead of hydraulic ones, owners had complained that the doors failed to latch properly or that the sensors in the doors malfunctioned.
Earlier this year in January, Hoerbiger had denied Tesla’s claims and had stated that it was not responsible for the electronic controls. It was not responsible for the complaints cited by Tesla related to the door’s symmetry and their overheating.
Hoerbiger has stated it is in the process of negotiating with Tesla over reasonable compensation.
Initially, Tesla had sought punitive damages for negligence. It later dropped that claim.
Incidentally in May this year, during the first quarter results conference, Musk claimed to not know of Hoerbiger when asked by Reuters.
In its lawsuit, Tesla had stated that Hoerbiger’s proposed system was prone to overheating, making the doors leak oil and inoperable. The doors sagged and did not open properly.
Tesla’s lawsuit also mentioned that the “unanticipated complexity” in integrating the car’s door system with the car added to assembly time and hiked up costs above Tesla’s expectations.
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