New Delhi: Elon Musk recently made a surprising move by letting go of a big chunk of Tesla’s team that handles electric vehicle (EV) charging. This has raised worries about Tesla’s plans for growth, especially as their car sales have slowed down.
The sudden layoffs caught many off guard, including other carmakers who were in talks with Tesla about using its Supercharger network for their EVs. People are now unsure about what Tesla will do next in terms of expanding its charging infrastructure.
Despite the layoffs, big car companies like General Motors and Ford, who had deals with Tesla for using its charging stations, say they’re sticking to their original plans.
Before this shakeup, Tesla had been praised for letting other EV makers use its charging network, even getting a thumbs up from President Joe Biden. This move also qualified Tesla for federal subsidies to improve its charging system.
Although Elon Musk hasn’t directly commented on the layoffs, he’s said Tesla still aims to grow the Supercharger network, but more slowly and with a focus on keeping existing stations running smoothly.
The firing of key employees, like Rebecca Tinucci who led the charging team, has left many wondering what Tesla’s next move will be. But Musk has a history of making big changes, so some think he might rebuild the charging team in a bigger and better way.
One supplier to the charging network, Andres Pinter, is worried about the sudden changes, especially since government funding like the NEVI program plays a big role in expanding EV infrastructure.
Despite the uncertainty, GM and Ford say they’re still on board with using Tesla’s charging stations for their EVs, showing they’re still committed to working together in the EV charging world.
