Things aren't going well at Tesla. Sales are falling, criticism is mounting, and Elon Musk's image is being debated. The board of directors has even reportedly started looking for a replacement. And meanwhile, a key executive has just left the company.
Elon Musk has long been considered Tesla's number one asset. Visionary, charismatic, and omnipresent, he has largely contributed to making the brand a symbol of innovation. But today, his image seems to be posing a problem. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company's board of directors has quietly begun to look for a replacement from the beginning of 2025. At the same time, the resignation of a senior technical manager is fueling doubts about the company's internal stability.
According to reports, the manufacturer has commissioned several specialist firms to identify a potential successor to Elon Musk. The reason: his very visible involvement in American politics, which has allegedly harmed the brand's image. The latter is said to have tried to reassure at the last financial conference, stating that he would now devote himself "more to Tesla." But this may not be enough to calm internal concerns.
This climate of distrust is not new. From the beginning of the year, Tesla recorded a historic drop in sales. Despite rebates and incentives, demand has declined. Added to this is a wave of protests against Elon Musk, accused of having politicized the brand by supporting divisive figures. He even denounced what he calls "domestic terrorism" against Tesla, after several acts of vandalism and demonstrations targeting its infrastructure.
Elon Musk is the focus of all the tensions at Tesla, even to the point of shaking his position as CEO
It is in this tense climate that Vineet Mehta, head of battery architecture at Tesla, has just left his post. Another departure from a strategic department, at a time when the manufacturer is playing a crucial role in improving the autonomy and production costs of its electric cars. This timing, added to rumors of internal disagreements, rekindles speculation about Elon Musk's future at the helm of Tesla.
The manufacturer is trying to minimize the impact of these tensions. Tesla's CFO has assured that Elon Musk's political activities only have an effect "on certain markets." For his part, the latter claims that no drop in demand has been observed. However, the share price fell by more than 3% after these revelations. At this time, the company has not publicly commented on the existence of a search for a new CEO. But the sequence of events leaves little room for doubt: the era of this once emblematic figure seems increasingly fragile.
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