In a series of significant developments, Tesla, Inc. has announced further layoffs, including senior executives and long-time veterans of the company. This news follows a previous round of layoffs that saw “more than 10%” of its global workforce being let go.
Among the notable departures is Drew Baglino, former VP of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, who had been with Tesla for 18 years and led the 4680 cell project. Additionally, Rohan Patel, head of policy and business development, and the entire new ad team have also left the company.
The most recent round of layoffs includes Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s Senior Director of EV charging, along with nearly all of her 500-person charging team. Tinucci was responsible for Tesla’s EV charging business, including Supercharging, and her departure may signal a change in direction for Tesla in this area. Despite this, Tesla will continue to build out some new Superchargers and complete those under construction.
Another notable departure is Daniel Ho, Director of Vehicle Programs and New Product Initiatives, who was program manager for the Model S, 3, and Y. Tesla’s guidance for a “pause” in growth until the release of next-gen vehicles like the “Model 2” and robotaxi products may have contributed to these layoffs, reflecting potential challenges within the new product initiatives team.
In response to these layoffs, CEO Elon Musk emphasized the need for Tesla to be “absolutely hard core” about headcount reduction, suggesting that executives whose subordinates do not meet certain standards could also face termination.
These layoffs come at a critical time for Tesla, following a quarterly earnings miss and a rare year-over-year reduction in sales. They also coincide with a trend in the tech industry where many companies are laying off staff despite high industry profits.
