The authorities of the US state of California have filed a lawsuit against electric car manufacturer Tesla for racial segregation and discrimination at one of the enterprises, according to local TV channel KTVU FOX 2.

The application was filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) in the Alameda County Court.

After receiving hundreds of complaints from workers, DFEH found evidence that the Tesla Fremont plant is a racially segregated workplace where black workers are subjected to racial harassment and discrimination in job assignments, penalties for plant discipline, pay and promotion, which creates an unfavorable working environment, the authorities said in a statement quoted by the TV channel.

In turn, before reports of the lawsuit surfaced, Tesla released its statement. The company noted that the California authorities intend to file a complaint about "systematic racial discrimination and harassment." The Department is said to have conducted a three-year investigation and during that time has "never expressed concern" about the situation in the workplace.

The lawsuit primarily addresses what appears to be alleged misconduct by manufacturing partners at the Fremont plant that took place between 2015 and 2019, Tesla said.

The company called the lawsuit unfounded and said it opposes discrimination. The automaker also accused the California department of deciding to file a complaint instead of constructive cooperation.