Tesla cut two key executives and lay off 500 employees supporting operations of the Supercharger EV charging network, Information reported on Tuesday, citing the CEO by Elon Musk email senior managers.
Musk cited falling sales and impatience with overall progress in reducing headcount as the main reasons for the cuts, and more cuts are expected, and warned his executives to take measures to cut staff numbers seriously.
Rebecca Tinucci, senior director of tram manufacturer’s Supercharger business and Daniel Ho, head of the division new car program, they both went out. The report said Musk also plans to fire everyone who works for Tinucci and Ho, including about 500 employees working on the Supercharger team. The Supercharger layoffs are especially surprising, because the Supercharger network is considered by many to be Tesla’s main advantage over its competitors – as of January, Tesla had built 6,000 Supercharger stations with nearly 55,000 stations charger.
Tesla’s public policy team, headed by former CEO Rohan Patel, will also be dissolved.
According to Musk, Tesla needs to remain “absolutely determined” in managing headcount and costs, and said the cuts should serve as a warning to anyone on staff not to seriously implement initiatives. Reuters said Tesla had 140,473 employees globally as of the end of 2023.
Ho joined Tesla in 2013 and held the role of program manager Model S, the 3 and the Y before being put in charge of all new vehicles. Tinucci joined in 2018. Two other leaders — Patel and battery chief development officer Drew Baglino – announced his departure earlier this month, when Tesla also ordered layoffs of more than 10% of its workforce.
Includes word reports Reuters.
