Tesla Shocks Industry with Layoffs of Supercharger Division Employees
In a surprising move, Tesla has laid off hundreds of employees, including the majority of the team from its Supercharger division. Rebecca Tinucci, senior director of EV charging, is also leaving the company along with most of the 500-person team she oversaw.
This news comes shortly after Tesla announced the opening up of its EV charging plug and network to other automakers, allowing access to its Supercharger stations. Despite this recent success in charging infrastructure, the layoffs could signal a change in strategy for the company.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, stated that the company remains committed to EV charging, but installations will slow down due to the recent cuts. Employees affected by the layoffs expressed shock and disappointment, with some sharing their experiences on social media.
The future of EV charging and who will step up if Tesla yields the charging crown remains uncertain. Tesla’s Supercharger network is widely recognized as superior to third-party EV charging stations, with 45,000 Superchargers worldwide.
During its most recent earnings report, Tesla reported growth in Supercharger installations, but sales and profits have fallen as demand for EVs decreases. Elon Musk focused on Tesla’s AI ventures and autonomous robotaxi efforts during an earnings call, emphasizing the company’s commitment to solving autonomy.
As the industry waits to see how this shift in strategy will impact the EV charging market, many are left wondering what lies ahead for Tesla and the future of electric vehicle infrastructure.
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