DETROIT — Federal prosecutors have expanded investigations into Tesla beyond the electric vehicle maker’s partially automated driving systems, and they have issued subpoenas for information instead of simply requesting it, the company disclosed Monday.

In a quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla said the Department of Justice is looking into “personal benefits, related parties, vehicle range and personnel decisions” without giving details.

The additional investigation topics and the subpoenas suggest that prosecutors have broadened their inquiry, and they have found the need to force Tesla to disclose information, legal experts say. The filing indicates prosecutors may be investigating Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and whether the company has been candid in describing the features of its vehicles, they say.

In January, Tesla disclosed that the Justice Department had requested documents related to its Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” features. Both features are classified as driver-assist systems, and the company says on its website that the vehicles cannot drive themselves.

Now, the company is disclosing a probe that is “a lot wider than just looking at Autopilot and FSD features,” said Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business and law professor. “The DOJ often starts with a formal written request and escalates to administrative subpoenas if it thinks it isn’t getting full cooperation,” he said.

Specifying additional items that prosecutors are looking at indicates that Tesla lawyers found them serious enough to change the company’s public disclosures, Gordon said.

Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment, but the company based in Austin, Texas, said in its SEC filing that to its knowledge, no government agency has concluded that any wrongdoing happened in any ongoing investigation. The Justice Department declined to comment.

For the first time, Tesla said in its filing that the investigations could damage the company’s brand.

“Should the government decide to pursue an enforcement action, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our business, results of operation, prospects, cash flows financial position or brand,” the filing said.

The Biden administration on Monday designated 31 technology hubs spread across the country — including St. Paul — to help spur innovation and create jobs in industries such as artificial intelligence, precision medicine and clean energy that have previously clustered on the nation’s coasts.

“We’re going to invest in critical technologies like biotechnology, critical materials, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing — so the U.S. will lead the world again in innovation across the board,” President Joe Biden said on Monday. “I truly believe this country is about to take off.”

The hubs, chosen through a competitive application process, include “Minnesota MedTech 3.0,” or “MMT3.0,” to be led by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Economic Development Partnership, otherwise known as Greater MSP.

Based in downtown St. Paul, Greater MSP plans to boost the state’s profile as a global center for “smart medtech” by bringing together the state’s “medical technology ecosystem” to integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, according to a written release from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

A goal of improving health outcomes

The goal, said Greater MSP officials in a separate release, is to create new products for health providers, health insurers and vendors in ways that improve health outcomes for patients while managing rising costs.

Officials said they expect MedTech 3.0 to “deliver thousands of jobs” while courting underrepresented groups in the region and across rural areas of the state as they expand access to lab spaces for start-ups and business accelerators, on top of apprenticeships, training and career pathway programs.

The MedTech 3.0 partnership includes 20 hospitals, medical device manufacturers, state agencies, venture capital firms and research institutions such as the University of Minnesota.

Matt Lewis, vice president of Strategic Initiatives at Greater MSP, indicated Monday it was still unclear how much money would come directly from federal coffers to support Minnesota MedTech 3.0.

“We don’t know exactly,” said Lewis, in an email. “This is a designation that makes us eligible to win tens of millions and as many as hundreds of millions of federal dollars in 2024 and beyond. This is just the beginning. The first wave of funding is only 5% of what Congress passed and the President signed. Much more will likely be allocated over time.”

Regional information sharing, collaboration

Lewis said the federal designation “allows us to combine all our powers here in Minnesota to get industry, government, academia, and other institutions rowing in the same direction, which will lead to many billions more in private investment.”

Among its goals, the Minnesota partnership aims to develop operating protocols for sharing medical data, better allowing for regional information-sharing and collaboration.

Partners include Allina, Boston Scientific, Brown Venture Group, the Center for Economic Inclusion, Fogarty Innovation, gener8tor, the Governor’s Workforce Development Board and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, HealthPartners, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Medical Alley Association, Metropolitan Economic Development Association, Medtronic, MN SBIR Inc., Minnesota Technology Association, the MSP Equity Fund and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the University of Minnesota and Vensana Capital.

On Monday U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and backer of the CHIPS and Science Act, joined Greater MSP President Peter Frosch to announce the designation of a Minnesota tech hub alongside Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer Geoff Martha, as well as University of Minnesota Interim President Jeff Ettinger, and Vocxi Health CEO Ping Yeh.

$500 million in grants to cities

The tech hubs are the result of a process that the Commerce Department launched in May to distribute a total of $500 million in grants to cities.

The $500 million came from a $10 billion authorization in last year’s CHIPS and Science Act to stimulate investments in new technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotech. It’s an attempt to expand tech investment that currently is largely concentrated around a few U.S. cities to the rest of the country.

According to the New York Times, the Biden administration said that in coming months the hubs will compete for a share of the $500 million, with roughly 5 to 10 of the projects receiving up to about $75 million each.

The program, formally the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, ties into the president’s economic argument that people should be able to find good jobs where they live and that opportunity should be spread across the country, rather than be concentrated on the coastal areas of the U.S. The White House has sought to elevate that message and highlight Biden’s related policies as the Democratic president undertakes his 2024 reelection bid.

In January, Greater MSP plans to relocate across downtown St. Paul from its Robert Street offices in the Securian building to its new home in the Osborn370 building on Wabasha Street.

This story contains information from the Associated Press. 

Related Articles

What you need to know: 2023 Dakota County education levy referendums

Unisys plans to leave its 32-acre Eagan campus as the city envisions new development

Nina Axelson’s Grid Catalyst helps launch new eco-firms like Carba and GetGreen in Minnesota

Sony’s Access controller for the PlayStation aims to make gaming easier for people with disabilities

Some Rosemount residents hesitant about $700 million Meta data center at UMore site

Royce Lewis’ return from a second knee surgery and subsequent emergence as a star-in-the-making was one of the most promising storylines of the Twins’ past season.

Lewis, formerly a shortstop throughout his minor league career, adapted well to third base, and as the Twins look ahead into next season, that’s where they’re penciling him in. Selected first overall in the 2017 draft, Lewis figures to be an important part of the Twins’ core moving forward.

2023 recap

After a productive rookie season, the Twins headed into 2022 with Jose Miranda as their third baseman to begin the year. But Miranda, who was limited during spring training due to a shoulder injury, struggled immensely to begin the season.

The Twins ultimately sent him down to Triple-A, only recalling him when they did because Lewis strained his oblique in early July. Miranda would quickly land on the injured list because of the shoulder. The last game he played was on July 9, marking what became a lost season for the 25-year-old.

Lewis, who began the season rehabbing his knee down at the Twins’ complex in Fort Myers, Fla., returned from the injured list in late May as a third baseman and captured the job. Though Lewis missed time with the oblique injury and again with a hamstring strain, he was one of the Twins’ most productive players when he was on the field.

The rookie hit .309 with a .921 OPS in 58 major league games. He hit 15 home runs in those games — four of them grand slams — and drove in 52 runs.

Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro also saw a good amount of time at third base, while Donovan Solano appeared there in 19 games. Later in the season, the Twins shifted Jorge Polanco from second base to third on occasion, having him play there when Lewis was out or limited to DH.

2024 outlook

At his end-of-season media session, manager Rocco Baldelli said he anticipates Lewis going into the offseason and spring training preparing to play the hot corner.

Minnesota Twins’ Jose Miranda watches his two-run double against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 13, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Though he might still wind up taking some groundballs at shortstop just to stay sharp, the Twins head into the offseason with the left side of their infield seemingly set with Lewis and Carlos Correa.

Miranda will spend the offseason rehabbing his shoulder as the Twins work to get him healthy. Though he could see some time at third base next season — and first, also — it’s hard for the Twins to predict what they might get from him moving forward after this season.

“We know that the version of Jose we saw when he was fully healthy back in 2021 is a really exciting factor, but we can’t really have that expectation right now just because we don’t know where he’s at just from a health standpoint,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said.

Castro figures to be back and to see some time at third base as he shifts around the field and the Twins will also need to make a decision on Farmer in the coming months. If they bring him back, expect him to move around the infield, as well.

Another name worth noting? Top prospect Brooks Lewis, like Lewis drafted as a shortstop, is knocking on the door in Triple-A and got some experience at third base this season with the Saints.

But while the Twins have plenty of options to play third base, when he’s healthy, Lewis should be over there the majority of the time.