In a surprising turn of events, Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel have announced their departure from Tesla, the electric vehicle maker and clean energy company. CEO Elon Musk expressed his gratitude to the departing executives on X, the social network that he owns and operates as the chief technology officer.
Baglino had been with Tesla since its early years, starting as a firmware and electrical engineer in 2006 and rising to the position of senior vice president for powertrain and energy engineering. Patel, on the other hand, joined Tesla in 2016 after serving as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama on climate and energy issues. Both executives played vital roles in battery and vehicle manufacturing, related policy, and the expansion of Tesla into a multinational EV manufacturer.
Recently, Tesla announced plans to shift its strategy at Musk’s direction, putting aside the idea of developing a more affordable new EV. Instead, the company will focus on developing a “robotaxi” and facing fierce competition from Chinese automakers like BYD in the affordable electric vehicle market. This shift in strategy indicates a changing landscape in the electric vehicle industry.
In a heartfelt post on X, Baglino expressed his gratitude for his time at Tesla, highlighting his contributions to the mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. Patel, in his own post, reflected on his immigrant parents’ hard work and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work at Tesla and be a part of history.
As of Monday morning, Tesla had not updated its corporate webpage to reflect Baglino’s departure. Musk, in response to the departing executives, thanked them for their contributions to Tesla and wished them well in their future endeavors.
The departure of Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel marks a significant shift in leadership at Tesla. The company will need to navigate this change as it continues to innovate and compete in the electric vehicle market. Only time will tell how this transition will impact Tesla’s future success.
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