Tesla has reportedly reversed some of the layoffs within its Supercharger team, a key aspect of its electric vehicle infrastructure, and reinstated a key executive, according to a recent report.
In April, Tesla made significant layoffs within its Supercharging team, including two key executives: Max de Zegher, Director of North American Charging, and Rebecca Tinucci, Senior Director of the Charging Team.
However, Tesla seems to be retracting some of these layoffs. Bloomberg reported that Tesla has brought back de Zegher, who was previously let go earlier in the month. His LinkedIn profile still indicates his role as the Director of Charging for the North American market, where Tesla holds a dominant position in the EV infrastructure landscape.
Tesla’s decision to lay off members of its Charging team, particularly top executives, was met with criticism from fans and investors. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, faced pushback on X, the social media platform he acquired in 2022.
Charging infrastructure is a critical component of the EV ownership experience and a significant factor that sets Tesla apart from other manufacturers. However, Tesla’s adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) has opened up its Supercharger Network to more than 15 automakers, with Ford gaining access in March.
The pause in the Supercharger buildout came at a challenging time, as more companies were planning to access the infrastructure in the coming years. Musk acknowledged this, stating that while Tesla plans to expand the Supercharger network, it would do so at a slower pace for new locations, focusing instead on ensuring 100% uptime and expanding existing locations.
However, Musk later announced that Tesla would invest “well over $500M expanding our Supercharger network to create thousands of NEW chargers this year.” This reversal suggests that Tesla and Musk have recognized the importance of maintaining a capable team to support their ambitious Supercharger expansion plans.