Apple is reportedly being accused in a lawsuit from battery maker A123 Systems of undertaking an aggressive campaign to poach its employees.

The Detroit News noted that the lawsuit comes amid reports that Apple is planning to develop an electric car.

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The newspaper said the lawsuit was filed this month in Massachusetts state court by A123 Systems and also accuses five of its former employees of violating non-disclosure agreements as they either went to work for Apple or planned to.

The Detroit News also said the case was moved to a federal court in Boston this week.

In its court case, Wanxiang Group-owned A123 reportedly is seeking an order barring one of its former employees from breaking his employment agreement and preventing Apple from encouraging him to do so.

Some media reports this week have suggested that Apple is pushing an in-house team to have an electric Apple-branded car in production as early as 2020. 

See also: 

US: Apple working on electric car – report

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