Tesla Faces $51 Million Lawsuit Over Robot Injury as It Pushes Into AI

Tesla Inc. (TSLA, Financials) is being sued for $51 million by a factory worker who says a company robot seriously injured him on the job. The case lands as Tesla is putting more public attention on its robotics plans, including a humanoid robot it hopes to bring into factories and homes.

Peter Hinterdobler, the worker, says that the disaster happened in 2023 when he was taking apart one of Tesla's robots. The claim says that the arm of the machine swung without notice and impacted him with the same power as an 8,000-pound counterweight.. Hinterdobler says he has already faced more than $1 million in medical costs and expects another $6 million in treatment.

He's asking for damages that also cover pain, emotional distress, lost wages, and his reduced ability to work in the future.

The timing is sensitive for Tesla.The business has been advertising its Optimus humanoid robot by showing off prototypes that it believes might ultimately do repetitive manufacturing duties and even chores around the house. The lawsuit brings attention to whether Tesla can keep workers safe while moving faster into automation.

Tesla's stock fell more than 3% Thursday after the lawsuit came to light. Wall Street analysts remain cautious, with most rating the stock a Hold. Even after strong gains this year, the average price target points to little room for further upside.

The company's legal response and whether questions about robot safety spread could shape the next chapter of Tesla's robotics strategy.