Tesla in turmoil?
We've been hearing for some time that the Tesla Motors electric sports car had been delayed. We've also known that Michael Marks, the current CEO was stepping down to concentrate on product development. Last week Tesla named Ze'ev Drori as the new CEO.
Now word is that Martin Eberhard, the founder of the company has been fired!..
In addition a number of other executives have left the company!
A partial statement from Eberhard:
"Yes it is true - I am no longer with Tesla Motors - neither on its Board of Directors nor an employee of any sort. I have also signed a non-disparagement agreement with Tesla, so I must. by contract, be a bit careful about how I word things.
But I am also not going to lie about it. I am not at all happy with the way I was treated, and I do not think this was the very best way to handle a transition - not the best for Tesla Motors, not the best for Tesla's customers (to whom I still feel a strong sense of responsibility), and not for Tesla's investors. ..."
You can read the full text of Eberhard's statement
here and a discussion
here at Tesla Motors Club forum.
So what the heck is going on here?
Here's I
nside Line's take:
An Unhappy Martin Eberhard Explains His Unceremonious Dumping by Tesla Motors
- Permalink | Comments (7)
- Posted by: Bob Holland December 3, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Green Tech
Not a good thing for a company that has more skeptics than supporters. Tesla needs everything to go just right to make it.
It isn't the case that a number of executives have recently left the company. The only recent departure was a VP of HR and it was totally unrelated to Martin's departure. The blog you sourced was referring to speculation by a commenter in a previous blog post.
A CEO transition is always a difficult thing, but it is normal for a startup to have leadership changes as it grows. Martin left the CEO post 4 months ago, so this is not new news.
What is new is that Martin chose to share some of his personal views on how it happened on a forum. From the perspective of a member of executive staff of the company, I can say we are all very focused on getting the Roadster delivered to our customers and we are all very committed to that goal. This transition isn't going to affect that commitment or focus.
Thanks for the clarification.
Color me skeptical...
Color them toast?
At least they care enough to set the record straight. Let's give them a chance...
Are management problems simply an excuse for engineering problems? I want the car to work but I smell vapourware.
I'm still waiting for a real test drive of it.