In a surprising turn of events, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is reportedly reconsidering the company’s recent layoffs. Announced in an email on Monday, the Tesla layoffs included the dissolution of the Supercharging team.
Despite emphasizing the need for “absolutely hard-core” cost-cutting measures, new reports suggest that Tesla is looking to rehire some of the impacted workers to maintain and grow its supercharger network.
Supercharger network in question
Several automotive giants – including Ford, General Motors, and Rivian – have invested in plans to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). This partnership would provide their electric vehicle (EV) customers with access to Tesla’s supercharger network.
According to Bloomberg, the sacking severely impacted this network. The departure of key figures in the supercharger network left executives in the dark. Meanwhile, sources tell Electrek that Tesla backed out from four leases for upcoming Supercharger locations.
However, Musk says on X the expansion would proceed at “a slower pace for new locations.” The focus would be on “100% uptime and expansion of existing locations.”
Most of the US’s fast chargers are Tesla Superchargers, with several automakers in talks with Tesla to adopt the network. While Ford and Rivian already have access to the network, others like GM, Hyundai, and Kia do not.
Recent Tesla layoffs
During Tesla’s Q1 earnings call, Musk said it was time to “reorganize” the company. Nearly 500 employees from the Supercharging team have been let go, tipping the total number of Tesla dismissals over 15,000.
Despite the profit plunge and restructuring, Musk plans to showcase Tesla’s fully autonomous robo-taxi, the Cybercab, on August 8, 2024. Musk also announced a “more affordable” Tesla model.
In a memo to employees, Musk said a thorough review of the organization indicated that Tesla had to reduce its “headcount by more than 10% globally.”
The recent layoffs saw the director of the supercharger group, Rebecca Tinucci, and the head of new products, Daniel Ho, exiting the company. Tinucci had been with Tesla for six years, and Ho for over a decade.
ALSO READ: More Tesla layoffs: Elon Musk ‘hard-core about headcount
In other news, Tesla recalled nearly 3,900 Cybertrucks due to a “potentially dangerous flaw” in the accelerator pedal design. The issue was found in models manufactured between November 13, 2023, and April 4, 2024.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/Jakob Härter
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Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
