Canoo (GOEV) has accused several former employees of “corporate espionage” for stealing trade secrets to start a rival electric car company.
Canoo was founded in 2017 to advance vehicle ownership with its groundbreaking electric vehicle. A key part of Canoo’s strategy revolves around its Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP). MPP serves as the base for an EV lineup that includes lifestyle and delivery vehicles, multi-purpose delivery vehicles and electric pickup trucks.
The company has faced some major setbacks this year and has expressed “serious doubts” about its ability to continue operations after seeing losses pile up.
Canoo continues to move forward, winning several significant supply contracts from Walmart, including up to 10,000 Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles (LDVs). The EV startup has also delivered vehicles to the US Army and NASA.
According to recently filed documents, Canoo has more than $2 billion in orders, including binding orders of $750 million. Despite recent progress, Canoo has lost several employees in the past few months before launching its own EV company, his Harbinger. In a recently filed lawsuit, Canoo claims it stole trade secrets and engaged in corporate espionage.
Canoo sues ex-employee for corporate espionage
On Dec. 22, Canoo filed a 58-page lawsuit in U.S. Central District Court in California, suing several former employees (and employees of other EV startups), including Harbinger’s CEO, CTO, COO, and the company itself. Ka claimed to have committed the theft. Violation of Intellectual Property, Trade Confidential Policy, or Severance Agreement.
According to documents unearthed by business insider, Canoo says Harbinger stole its electric vehicle platform technology (MPP) and used it to compete in the market. The filing reads:
This is a case of corporate espionage by a group of grifters who infiltrated Canoo to steal intellectual property.
The filing adds that the former employee “always intended” to steal the technology and use it as his own. takes IP protection seriously.”
Canoo also accuses Harbinger of hiring from its employees. A company spokesperson continued:
This is not a case of some employees leaving the company to work for a competitor. This is much worse. Using his Canoo confidential information and trade secrets (including skills and training) relating to Canoo employees, Harbinger will strategically recruit at least 33 of his Canoo employees to Harbinger accounted for approximately 66% of the total workforce of
Meanwhile, Harbinger is defending itself, as a spokesperson said. insider:
Harbinger and its co-founders have always operated with the utmost integrity and have never been involved in any conduct that could lead to this futility lawsuit.
Harbinger did not provide further comment, but added, “We are confident in our position and will vigorously defend against Canoo’s baseless allegations.”
Harbinger unveiled a “revolutionary EV platform” designed for midsize vehicles in September and appointed former Tesla vice president of manufacturing Gilbert Passin as chief production officer earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Canoo recently received incentives of up to $1 million to produce electric vehicles and create high-paying manufacturing jobs from its Oklahoma City facility. Stay tuned for more details on the Canoo-Harbinger lawsuit. We will update you as soon as we have more details.
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