Report: Tesla lays off entire Supercharger team! [Update: Elon Musk says supercharger growth will continue]

[ModelAZ]

Updated with Elon Musk's first comment after supercharger team layoffs:

"Tesla still plans to grow the Supercharger network, just at a slower pace for new locations and more focus on 100% uptime and expansion of existing locations"




News Article: https://electrek.co/2024/04/29/tesla-conducting-more-layoffs-including-entire-supercharger-team/

Just after laying off “more than 10%” of its global workforce, Tesla is laying off even more employees – including senior executives and long-time veterans of the company, most notably the entire Supercharging team and the executive responsible for negotiating NACS adoption across the industry.

Original source: https://www.theinformation.com/arti...layoffs-as-two-senior-tesla-executives-depart

 

[DFWBrad]

Yeah was just going through my stock feed this morning and saw that. Seems.... Interesting ?

"Hopefully these actions are making it clear that we need to be absolutely hard core about headcount and cost reduction," Musk said in the email. "While some on exec staff are taking this seriously, most are not yet doing so."

Kinda interesting to be fighting for your $50b package whilst firing 10% of your staff. (I believe he deserves it btw, just ill timing)

 

[Idea Of The Day]

The "Entire Staff".... What the heck?

I can't see how that could be entirely true. They need boots on the ground to install and maintain locations, so perhaps they just mean the design or management team.

 

[Speedr]

They're also cancelling the $25,000 car (eye roll, we saw how THAT turned out). Don't believe everything that gets "reported". It's almost like a gossip site these days.

 

[Kahpernicus]

Is a restructuring plan, makes sense, and more of this gonna keep happening.

 

[Mini2nut]

Elon is doing the right thing. Tesla will be better off in the long run and these headcount reductions will ensure a bright future.

Don’t bet against Mr. Musk!

 

[carsly]

This is Fred Lambert from Electrek who is in a pissing contest with Elon (guess who's winning). His reporting hasn't always been on the level or on point. Take it with a grain of salt until you have independent corroboration.

 

[Kahpernicus]

This is Fred Lambert from Electrek who is in a pissing contest with Elon (guess who's winning). His reporting hasn't always been on the level or on point. Take it with a grain of salt until you have independent corroboration.

Original source isn't electrek.

Never heard of "the information" before today.

Though retuters is sourcing it, giving it a little bit more credibility.

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...-more-layoffs-information-reports-2024-04-30/

 

[carsly]

While Reuters isn't known for being on point either, The Information has been around for a minute.

Lots of speculation here, but my interpretation (yes, it's an informed guess) is that Mr. Musk wasn't happy about new Superchargers getting screens, payment terminals, etc. in order to receive NEVI funding and decided to just shut it all down - from the policy through the design and execution - and force the market to catch up to where Tesla already is the as the company more deliberately rations cash in the face of slower growth and lower prices.

Why?

It will take years, if not a decade or more, for any competitors to try and build a competitive charging network. Rather than compromise what's made Tesla successful - super-simple plug and go charging - Mr. Musk wants to maintain that strategic advantage. While cash is getting tight, adding more charging stalls won't necessarily increase Tesla's advantage in the next 1-3 years so best to cease development on a bizarro NEVI charger and wait until after the 2024 election to ramp up investments in charging. In the meantime, there was probably nothing for the team to actually do.

Make no mistake, Musk is playing 6-10 moves ahead. The "why" on decisions like this won't be obvious to us in the outside world for many years to come when the results come in but it does fuel short-sellers abundant misunderstanding of Tesla.

 

[Gurule92]

The "Entire Staff".... What the heck?

I can't see how that could be entirely true. They need boots on the ground to install and maintain locations, so perhaps they just mean the design or management team.

They like prefab the supercharger stations now. From what I understand they just need to connect a couple wires when they get there and they could have any electricians do that.

 

[HaulingAss]

While Reuters isn't known for being on point either, The Information has been around for a minute.

Lots of speculation here, but my interpretation (yes, it's an informed guess) is that Mr. Musk wasn't happy about new Superchargers getting screens, payment terminals, etc. in order to receive NEVI funding and decided to just shut it all down - from the policy through the design and execution - and force the market to catch up to where Tesla already is the as the company more deliberately rations cash in the face of slower growth and lower prices.

Why?

It will take years, if not a decade or more, for any competitors to try and build a competitive charging network. Rather than compromise what's made Tesla successful - super-simple plug and go charging - Mr. Musk wants to maintain that strategic advantage. While cash is getting tight, adding more charging stalls won't necessarily increase Tesla's advantage in the next 1-3 years so best to cease development on a bizarro NEVI charger and wait until after the 2024 election to ramp up investments in charging. In the meantime, there was probably nothing for the team to actually do.

Make no mistake, Musk is playing 6-10 moves ahead. The "why" on decisions like this won't be obvious to us in the outside world for many years to come when the results come in but it does fuel short-sellers abundant misunderstanding of Tesla.

I like your analysis a lot, and think it stands a good chance of being correct on the specifics too. The general gist of it is spot on for sure. It's why Elon tends to always win, he sees what others can't. Because his brain is always parsing everything. That's what makes him worth more than so many other CEO's all put together - and he knows it too.

People love to second guess his actions, and he's not 100% correct, simply because he's a human and all humans are fallable, but you can't second guess his overall results, they are the proof of his brilliance.

No, there is no one else that can do it. Not as well as Elon. His detractors try to make you believe that he has finally lost it, but nothing has ever changed. He sees what others cannot.

 

[Tedacules]

The "Entire Staff".... What the heck?

I can't see how that could be entirely true. They need boots on the ground to install and maintain locations, so perhaps they just mean the design or management team.

Fake news don't believe everything you read.

 

[CybertruckRN1127]

Good, they saw my survey! Haha joking, but I did tell them I may not buy a Tesla in the future since other manufacturers could use the Supercharging network so there is no need to stay with Tesla once other competitors come online. I'm very interested in purchasing a Rivian R2 and R3X. Only if Rivian could stay in business long enough to bring those to market.

Allowing others access to Superchargers was a very bad decision, unless they double the charging fee so others can use it in a jam or they lower Tesla charge rate back down to 28 cents.

 

[Cyber Bear]

While Reuters isn't known for being on point either, The Information has been around for a minute.

Lots of speculation here, but my interpretation (yes, it's an informed guess) is that Mr. Musk wasn't happy about new Superchargers getting screens, payment terminals, etc. in order to receive NEVI funding and decided to just shut it all down - from the policy through the design and execution - and force the market to catch up to where Tesla already is the as the company more deliberately rations cash in the face of slower growth and lower prices.

Why?

It will take years, if not a decade or more, for any competitors to try and build a competitive charging network. Rather than compromise what's made Tesla successful - super-simple plug and go charging - Mr. Musk wants to maintain that strategic advantage. While cash is getting tight, adding more charging stalls won't necessarily increase Tesla's advantage in the next 1-3 years so best to cease development on a bizarro NEVI charger and wait until after the 2024 election to ramp up investments in charging. In the meantime, there was probably nothing for the team to actually do.

Make no mistake, Musk is playing 6-10 moves ahead. The "why" on decisions like this won't be obvious to us in the outside world for many years to come when the results come in but it does fuel short-sellers abundant misunderstanding of Tesla.

I hope you’re right. In the meantime does it still make sense, if the capacity issue is true, to restrict non Tesla vehicles from using the Super Charging stations?

 

[geekwithout]

While Reuters isn't known for being on point either, The Information has been around for a minute.

Lots of speculation here, but my interpretation (yes, it's an informed guess) is that Mr. Musk wasn't happy about new Superchargers getting screens, payment terminals, etc. in order to receive NEVI funding and decided to just shut it all down - from the policy through the design and execution - and force the market to catch up to where Tesla already is the as the company more deliberately rations cash in the face of slower growth and lower prices.

Why?

It will take years, if not a decade or more, for any competitors to try and build a competitive charging network. Rather than compromise what's made Tesla successful - super-simple plug and go charging - Mr. Musk wants to maintain that strategic advantage. While cash is getting tight, adding more charging stalls won't necessarily increase Tesla's advantage in the next 1-3 years so best to cease development on a bizarro NEVI charger and wait until after the 2024 election to ramp up investments in charging. In the meantime, there was probably nothing for the team to actually do.

Make no mistake, Musk is playing 6-10 moves ahead. The "why" on decisions like this won't be obvious to us in the outside world for many years to come when the results come in but it does fuel short-sellers abundant misunderstanding of Tesla.

Maintaining the advantage doesn't mean sitting still in development of anything bigger and better. That simply means you're letting the competition catch up. History has proven that companies doing that will not be around for much longer. It might work for a few years while your equipment is getting outdated but won't work in the long run.