Tata Electronics Breach Exposes Over 630 GB of Apple and Tesla Design Files – Investigations Underway

Indian contract manufacturer Tata Electronics disclosed a cybersecurity incident after ransomware group World Leaks claimed to have stolen over 20,000 files, amounting to more than 630 GB, that contain design and specification documents for Apple and Tesla components.

Tata said the breach was detected weeks earlier, its response protocol was activated, and operations were not affected. Apple has launched a full investigation and Tata has informed some iPhone‑assembly staff; Tesla has not commented.

World Leaks’ dark‑web site lists files labeled “com.apple.factorydata”, material‑specification documents, and a 52‑page Apple‑branded file detailing iPhone PCB quality standards. For Tesla, folders such as “NV36 charging port controller‑North America” and a 2023 “confidential” file showing Highland project drawings for the Model 3 were found. A review video shows a search for “Apple” returning 181 items and a search for “Tesla” returning multiple manufacturing‑spec files, including an assembly file dated May 2025.

The incident underscores how suppliers have become high‑risk points in supply‑chain attacks, a pattern also seen in the Instructure Canvas education data leak and a recent AI‑training data breach via the Mercor intermediary. Attackers prioritize any data bearing a high‑profile brand name as leverage, regardless of its actual content.

Apple, Tesla and Tata have only confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with no further details released; ransom demands have been reported, and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team has not responded to Reuters inquiries.