A U.S. federal jury has ordered Tesla to pay over $130 million in damages to a Black former employee.

That's according to the Wall Street Journal.

It says the jury found that Owen Diaz was subjected to a racially hostile workplace.

He was an elevator operator who worked at the company's factory in Fremont, California.

The jury reportedly also found that Tesla failed to take any steps to protect Diaz from harassment.

In a statement, the firm said the facts did not justify the verdict, but conceded that its record at the time of Diaz's employment was 'not perfect'.

Before the trial began, the presiding judge rejected efforts by Tesla to exclude one juror, saying he believed the attempt was based on race.

Last year the electric car maker disclosed in its first diversity report that Black employees make up only 4% of its U.S. leadership roles, and 10% of its total workforce in the country.