A day after Lukasz Krupski extinguished a fire at a Tesla car delivery location in Norway, sustaining serious burns in the process and preventing a potential disaster, he received an email from Elon Musk in March 2019, praising him for saving the day. However, what initially seemed like a story of a heroic employee and appreciative employer has evolved into a contentious battle between the Tesla and Krupski, a service technician. This conflict has led to legal actions in Norway and the United States, drawing the attention of regulators in multiple countries.
🔥 From hero to whistleblower: Uncover the gripping story of Lukasz Krupski, the man who challenged Tesla and Elon Musk. A tale of bravery, controversy, and explosive revelations. Don't miss the full story! #TeslaWhistleblower 🚗💥 Read more: https://t.co/7m0OwAyI4h pic.twitter.com/rmaURBUTWN
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Despite being initially hailed as a hero, Krupski claims he faced harassment, threats, and eventual termination after raising concerns about what he perceived as significant safety issues at his workplace near Oslo. In an interview with The New York Times, Krupski, originally from Poland, revealed that he handed over extensive data from Tesla’s computer system to Handelsblatt, a German business newspaper, due to his frustration with the company.
The data contained lists of Tesla employees, including Musk, often with their personal information, accident reports, and internal communications. Handelsblatt used this information for stories about flaws in Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assistance software and challenges in manufacturing the Cybertruck pickup. Krupski’s actions raised questions about Tesla’s protection of employee privacy and confidential information.
The Data Protection Authority in the Netherlands, where Tesla has its European headquarters, is investigating whether the data breach violated privacy laws. In the United States, a former Tesla production worker, Benson Pai, has filed a lawsuit, claiming that Tesla’s lax security exposed employee information. Lawyers for Pai are seeking class-action status for the case.
Krupski shared the data with Aaron Greenspan, a prominent Tesla critic, who encouraged him to provide information about Autopilot to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA has an ongoing investigation into Autopilot’s safety. Krupski and Greenspan also raised questions about Tesla’s accounting practices with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Despite being initially anonymous, Krupski spoke on the record to Handelsblatt, revealing his identity. In an interview with The Times, Krupski disclosed that he is unemployed, has depleted his savings, and intends to sue Tesla for compensation. He has served Tesla with formal notice of his intent to sue but cannot proceed without funds for legal representation.
In March 2019, Krupski played a pivotal role in preventing a potential car fire at Tesla’s delivery location in Norway. However, after raising safety concerns, he faced retaliation, threats, and termination from Tesla, leading to a protracted legal battle and the exposure of sensitive company data.
