Lawsuit Alleges Racism and Discrimination at Tesla, Inc.’s Fremont Plant, Seeking Class Action Status for 6,000 Workers

Tesla, Inc. is facing a potential class-action lawsuit after 240 Black factory workers in California reported experiencing racism and discrimination at the electric automaker’s San Francisco Bay Area plant.

The testimonies, filed Monday in Alameda County Superior Court, detail frequent use of racial slurs and references to the manufacturing site as a plantation or slave ship. The testimonies come from contractors and employees who worked on the production floor of the factory in Fremont, roughly 40 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Lawyers suing Tesla, Inc. are seeking class action status and estimate at least 6,000 workers could be part of the class. The individual testimonies are part of a 2017 lawsuit brought by Marcus Vaughn, who complained in writing to human resources about the racism he experienced at the plant.

The lawsuit claims that Tesla, Inc. failed to take action to address the racism and discrimination reported by Vaughn and other Black workers. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction requiring Tesla, Inc. to implement anti-discrimination policies and practices.

Tesla, Inc. has not yet responded to the lawsuit. The company has previously denied allegations of racism and discrimination at its Fremont plant. The case is expected to be heard in court in the coming months.