Rise of the Machines: Tesla Worker Files $51 Million Lawsuit After Robot Attack at Fremont Plant

A 50-year-old robotics engineer, Peter Hinterdobler, has filed a $51 million lawsuit against Tesla and robotics manufacturer FANUC after being seriously injured by a factory robot at Tesla’s Fremont, California, plant. According to court filings reviewed by The Independent, the incident occurred in the summer of 2023 during the dismantling of a Model 3 assembly-line robot.

Hinterdobler says he lost consciousness after being struck by a robotic arm. The impact knocked him to the ground, leaving him with severe injuries. His medical treatment has already cost more than $1 million, and future expenses are expected to exceed an additional $6 million.

The lawsuit seeks $20 million for physical pain, suffering, and daily hardships; $10 million for emotional distress and psychological trauma; $1 million in lost wages; $8 million for reduced future earning potential; and $5 million for the loss of household services.

Hinterdobler accuses Tesla of violating safety protocols, alleging the robot was not confined to its designated area and was neither powered down nor secured before work began. The complaint also states that Tesla implemented new safety rules only after the accident. FANUC is accused of defective design, inadequate instructions, and an unexpected robot malfunction. Despite repeated requests, Hinterdobler claims Tesla has refused to release video footage of the incident.

Tesla’s Fremont factory, which has the capacity to produce around 650,000 vehicles per year, builds the Model Y, Model S, Model 3, and Model X. The plant has frequently drawn scrutiny from regulators. In 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Tesla over widespread racial discrimination. Earlier this year, the company settled another case. And in August 2025, a former security director filed a high-profile lawsuit alleging violence, drug-fueled parties, fights, and intolerance at the facility. The latest lawsuit underscores that Tesla’s legal troubles are far from over.