On May 1st, it was reported that Elon Musk announced through a memo on April 29th that Rebecca Tinucci, head of the Tesla Supercharging team, and Daniel Ho, head of new products, along with the entire team, will be leaving, involving around 500 employees. This news not only shocked the industry but also sparked widespread attention to the future of Tesla's charging business.
Earlier, Musk had announced last month that Tesla would cut over 10% of its workforce and expressed shock at the management's failure to streamline staff more quickly as per his instructions. The adjustment to the Supercharging team is undoubtedly part of Tesla's layoff plan.
As a globally renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla's fast-charging network has always been one of its core competitive advantages.
According to Tesla's official website, the company has built over 50,000 Superchargers worldwide, providing great convenience for electric vehicle users.
Especially in mainland China, Tesla's Supercharging network layout follows the principle of setting up both urban and long-distance stations. By November 2023, it had nearly 2,000 Supercharging stations and over 10,000 Superchargers.
However, with the departure of the Supercharging team leaders and the layoffs, doubts have arisen about the future of Tesla's charging business.
Tesla's layoff decision was not forewarned to investors, leaving charging station partners, including small and medium-sized enterprises installing and maintaining electric vehicle charging equipment at key locations across the U.S., shocked.
Nevertheless, Tesla has not completely halted its Supercharging network expansion plans. Musk stated on social media that they will "slow down" the construction of some new sites and focus more on maximizing the utilization of existing charging facilities.
Additionally, the ongoing Supercharging stations will be completed successively to ensure the needs of existing users are met.
This adjustment indicates Tesla's strategic realignment of its Supercharging business. Despite the layoffs and senior departures causing a stir, Tesla continues to emphasize and invest in its charging business.
By slowing expansion and maximizing existing facilities, Tesla aims to achieve a more efficient and sustainable charging network layout in the future.
