Tesla is one of the most sued companies in California. Between lemon law claims, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving personal injury cases, employment disputes, and PAGA actions, the volume of litigation targeting Tesla generates a constant stream of service of process needs across the state. If you need to serve Tesla, getting the entity name and registered agent right is the first step — and it is not as straightforward as you might expect.
The Correct Legal Entity
The company most people call “Tesla” has gone through several name and domicile changes that matter for service of process.
The correct entity name is Tesla, Inc. The company was originally incorporated as Tesla Motors, Inc. in Delaware in 2003. It changed its name to Tesla, Inc. in February 2017, reflecting its expansion beyond automobiles into energy storage and solar products.
In June 2024, Tesla redomiciled from Delaware to Texas following a highly publicized dispute over Elon Musk’s compensation package, which a Delaware Chancery Court voided. Despite the redomiciliation to Texas, Tesla remains registered to do business in California and maintains a California registered agent.
If you are working with older court documents or filing a case related to events before 2017, you may encounter the name Tesla Motors, Inc. Both names refer to the same entity, but current filings should use Tesla, Inc.
Search bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm the current registered agent before serving. Agent designations can change, and verifying the current registration takes less than a minute.
Where to Serve
Registered agent: CT Corporation System
Address: 330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 700, Glendale, CA 91203
CT Corporation is one of the oldest and largest registered agent companies in the United States, founded in 1892. Their Glendale office at 330 N. Brand Boulevard serves as the service of process acceptance point for thousands of California-registered entities, including Tesla. For more on serving at CT Corporation, see our CT Corporation service page.
CT Corporation accepts service during normal business hours. Suite 700 is on the seventh floor of the building. Present the documents to CT’s authorized staff, identifying the target entity as Tesla, Inc.
What Documents Are Commonly Served
Tesla’s litigation exposure in California is broad. The most common documents served include:
• Lemon law complaints — Tesla is consistently among the top defendants in California lemon law cases. Battery degradation, phantom braking, panel gaps, suspension failures, and HVAC malfunctions generate hundreds of Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act claims annually.
• Autopilot and FSD personal injury suits — Cases alleging that Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self-Driving systems caused or contributed to accidents. These cases have increased significantly as FSD deployment has expanded.
• Employment and PAGA actions — Private Attorneys General Act claims alleging labor code violations at Tesla’s Fremont manufacturing facility, its Lathrop facility, and its service centers throughout California. PAGA actions are filed in high volume against Tesla.
• Securities-related subpoenas — Subpoenas seeking records related to Tesla’s public statements, financial disclosures, and executive communications.
• Product liability claims — Beyond Autopilot, claims involving battery fires, sudden unintended acceleration allegations, and structural defects.
How We Handle It
CT Corporation at 330 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale is a high-volume registered agent location that we serve regularly. Our process servers are familiar with the building access procedures, the suite location, and CT’s intake process.
For Tesla service specifically, we ensure the proof of service reflects the correct entity name — Tesla, Inc. — and the correct agent address. A mismatch between the entity on the documents and the entity registered with the agent can create delays. We verify the registration before serving whenever possible.
Service Level | Timeframe | Price
Standard | 10 business days | \$99
Expedited | 3 business days | \$150
Rush | 24 hours | \$175
Court Filing Add-on | — | +\$30
