Tesla faces major trial for alleged bias against Black workers, after years of lawsuits

California's Civil Rights Department has filed a lawsuit accusing electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla of widespread racial discrimination at its assembly plant in Fremont, California. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleges that Black workers at the plant faced pervasive harassment, including racial slurs and graffiti, and were paid less than their White counterparts.

They were also denied promotions and faced a racially segregated work environment. Tesla has denied these allegations and stated that it does not tolerate discrimination, having fired workers found to be in violation of company policy. The case is expected to go to trial before State Superior Court Judge Peter Borkon, with a bench trial scheduled to run until October 30.

The case is one of several lawsuits currently facing Tesla, including one from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and many individual lawsuits from workers alleging racial harassment.