Tesla Inc. has made the decision to eliminate almost its entire Supercharger organization, which is responsible for building a vast network of public charging stations that many major automakers are utilizing in the US. This move was made by CEO Elon Musk and comes on the heels of a 10% staff cut in April. The network’s growth will now slow down as a result of this decision, and there are discussions about potentially rehiring some of those impacted to operate the existing network at a slower pace.
Executives at other automakers, such as Rivian Automotive Inc., Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Co., are feeling confused and concerned by the job cuts at Tesla. These companies have been using Tesla’s charging connectors for their battery-powered cars, giving their customers access to the Tesla charging network. While these vehicles were initially designed to use a standard called the Combined Charging System, Tesla’s infrastructure is considered faster and more reliable, with more Superchargers available in the US.
The job eliminations at Tesla mean that Rivian, Ford, and other automakers have lost their main points of contact in Tesla’s charging unit right before the busy summer driving season. Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director who was among those laid off, was highly regarded for her work in building and managing outside partnerships. This has left some industry insiders concerned about the impact on the future growth and management of the charging network.
Despite the setbacks caused by the job cuts, discussions are already underway about potentially rehiring some of the impacted employees to continue operating and growing the network at a slower pace. Musk has confirmed that network growth will indeed slow down as a result of these changes. The decision to cut the Supercharger organization has raised questions and uncertainties among industry insiders about the future of Tesla’s charging network and its partnerships with other automakers.
Overall, the elimination of Tesla’s Supercharger organization has raised concerns among executives at other automakers and within the industry about the impact on the growth and management of the charging network. While the decision to cut staff may slow down network growth, discussions about potentially rehiring some of those impacted to continue operating the network are already underway. The move comes at a crucial time as the summer driving season kicks off, leaving some industry insiders questioning the future of Tesla’s charging network and its partnerships with other carmakers.
