Tesla hit by new lawsuit alleging racial abuse

Fifteen black former or current employees at Tesla have filed a lawsuit against the electric carmaker, alleging they faced racial abuse and harassment at its factories.

The workers said they were subjected to offensive racist comments and behaviour by colleagues, managers, and human resources employees on a regular basis, according to the lawsuit filed in a California state court.

Some of the plaintiffs were assigned to the most physically demanding posts in Tesla or passed over for promotion, according to the lawsuit.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The automaker is facing at least 10 lawsuits alleging widespread race discrimination or sexual harassment, including one by a California civil rights agency.

It previously has denied wrongdoing and says it has policies in place to prevent and address workplace misconduct.

On Monday, a federal judge in California ordered a fresh trial on the damages Tesla owes to a black former factory worker who accused the company of race discrimination, after he turned down a $15m (£12.4m) award.