In a major development, the US civil rights agency, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, accusing the electric carmaker of tolerating severe harassment of black employees at its flagship Fremont, California, assembly plant. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, claims that black workers at the Tesla plant have been routinely subjected to racist slurs and graffiti, including swastikas and nooses, from 2015 to the present.

According to the EEOC, Tesla has failed to investigate complaints of racist conduct and has retaliated against workers who report harassment. This lawsuit adds to the several race discrimination lawsuits that Tesla is already facing, including a class action by workers at the Fremont plant and a lawsuit by a California civil rights agency. Tesla has previously stated that it does not tolerate discrimination and takes workers' complaints seriously.

The EEOC's lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for an unspecified number of black workers, as well as an order requiring Tesla to overhaul its policies prohibiting discrimination and retaliation. The agency began investigating Tesla after its chair, Charlotte Burrows, filed an internal complaint against the company last year. Following the investigation, the EEOC found "reasonable cause" to believe that Tesla had violated federal laws against workplace race discrimination.

Charlotte Burrows emphasized that combating workplace harassment is a key priority for the EEOC. She stated, "Every employee deserves to have their civil rights respected, and no worker should endure the kind of shameful racial bigotry our investigation revealed."

Tesla's stock price rose by 2.4% to $246.38 on Thursday, despite the news of the lawsuit. Tesla has not yet responded to the request for comment regarding the lawsuit.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time Tesla has faced such allegations. The California Civil Rights Department has also accused the company of discrimination against black workers in decisions about pay, promotions, and work assignments. Tesla has claimed that the state department's lawsuit was politically motivated and argued that the agency violated state law by suing without providing proper notice or a chance to settle.

In addition to the EEOC lawsuit, a black former elevator operator at the Fremont plant, Owen Diaz, is seeking a third trial in his 2017 lawsuit. Diaz claimed he was subjected to severe racial harassment during his time at Tesla. In April, a jury awarded Diaz $3.2 million, but a federal judge deemed the amount excessive and Diaz opted for a new trial instead.

Furthermore, Tesla is also facing a class-action lawsuit in California state court over the alleged mistreatment of black factory workers. Approximately 240 workers have joined this lawsuit.

The EEOC's lawsuit against Tesla highlights the ongoing struggle to address racial discrimination in the workplace and serves as a reminder that no company is exempt from the law. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Tesla responds and whether these allegations will lead to significant changes in the company's policies and practices.