Tesla's planned Texas solar factory has landed in the middle of a US patent dispute between two Chinese equipment suppliers. Linton Crystal Technologies, owned by China's Dalian Linton, sued Zhejiang Jingsheng in federal court in Texas, accusing it of infringing two patents on a seed lifting and rotating system used in Czochralski crystal pullers. Linton is seeking damages, treble damages, and a permanent injunction against the equipment Tesla reportedly needs for its 100 GW solar manufacturing goal.
Jingsheng has not confirmed the order, but Chinese trade press says it won a roughly $420 million Tesla contract for crystal pullers earlier this year. Tesla has not confirmed the order either. The equipment is meant for Tesla's $10.1 billion "Project Crystal Sun" factory in Fort Bend County, Texas, which is planned to cover ingot growth through finished modules, with production targeted for early 2029. Ingot pulling is the first step in that chain, making the patent fight potentially significant for Tesla's timeline.
Jingsheng denies infringement, saying its products use "entirely different" technical solutions and that it expects no material impact. Both suppliers are under financial pressure as China's solar manufacturing glut has cut equipment orders. An industry expert quoted in Chinese media described the lawsuit as the weaker player using patents for negotiating leverage. The likely outcome, according to the report, is a settlement or licensing deal rather than an injunction that halts shipments. Still, the case underscores how Tesla's push for US-made solar panels depends on Chinese production lines and the supply chain disputes that come with them.