Tesla sues Cybertruck supplier Angstrom amid standoff keeping production hostage
21 hours ago
- Tesla is seeking emergency court access to a supplier's plant in Troy, Texas, to retrieve tooling needed for Cybertruck production.
- The supplier, Angstrom Automotive Group, is closing the plant and has denied Tesla entry, jeopardizing thousands of Cybertruck orders.
- Tesla's filing is narrow, requesting only retrieval of its property, not litigation of other disputes.
- The specialized tooling (die-cast machinery, trim dies, etc.) is custom-built for Cybertruck parts and cannot be replaced quickly.
- Angstrom acquired Anderton Castings, the original supplier, and inherited Tesla's contract; the plant closure followed a demand for weekly payments.
- Tesla's on-hand parts are nearly exhausted, and no other supplier can currently make these components, leading to a production halt.
- The article notes potential supplier tensions due to Cybertruck's lower-than-expected sales (20,000/yr vs 250,000/yr planned).