The Inside Story: Elon Musk’s Mass Firings of Tesla Supercharger Staff
In a sudden and dramatic turn of events, Elon Musk has fired the entire 500-member team behind Tesla’s Supercharger network, a move that has sent shockwaves through the electric vehicle industry. The firings, which included charging chief Rebecca Tinucci, came after she reportedly disagreed with Musk’s demand for even deeper layoffs. This abrupt decision has created chaos for a network widely considered to be a signature Tesla achievement and a key part of its success.
Chaos and Uncertainty for Partners
The fallout from the firings has left many of Tesla’s partners and contractors in a state of confusion. A letter sent to suppliers and contractors instructed them to “hold on” to any new projects and materials. Many companies that had invested millions of dollars and planned their business around Tesla’s expansion are now unsure of their future. The company’s energy team, which has little experience with public charging networks, has been tasked with taking over the Supercharger projects.
A Major Setback for EV Charging
While Elon Musk has promised to continue expanding the network, internal documents suggest the plans have been significantly scaled back. A $500 million budget for expansion is a big reduction from what the team had originally planned. This scaled-back effort is expected to slow down the growth of the Supercharger network, which accounts for over 60% of US high-speed charging ports.
Here is a summary of the key numbers from the Supercharger firings:
Part of a Bigger Pattern
The mass firings are the latest in a series of dramatic events at Tesla. The company has been shifting its focus from a full-fledged sales and charging business to a more focused effort on self-driving technology. The company also posted its first decline in auto sales since 2020 in the first quarter of this year. These events have led to a number of key executives leaving the company amid deep company-wide layoffs.
