A Canadian who lives in China has been taken into custody in the U.S. for reportedly stealing information from a company that makes electric cars. Tesla’s This person is also accused of planning to sell the information to undercover law enforcement officers.
Klaus Pflugbeil, who runs a business in China selling technology for electric vehicles, was arrested in New York on Tuesday, according to federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.
He had traveled to meet with undercover agents who he thought were businesspeople from Long Island, prosecutors stated.
Pflugbeil and his business partner Yilong Shao used secrets from a major U.S. electric vehicle company to build their business, according to prosecutors. Shao also faces charges but has not been caught.
The U.S.-based company involved was not named by prosecutors, but they said it had bought a Canadian company that makes battery assembly lines in 2019. This matches the description of Tesla’s acquisition of a Canadian company called Hibar.
Both Pflugbeil and Shao used to work for the Canadian company, according to prosecutors.
Pflugbeil was supposed to appear in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors said. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Shao could not be reached for comment.
