Amid Tesla bloodshed, top executive sends message to Musk: company has ‘pulled its weight’

“Great companies are made up of equal parts great people and great products, and the latter are only possible when their people are successful,” Otto wrote in a farewell message on LinkedIn on Wednesday. The resulting job losses and cultural repercussions “have unbalanced this harmony and it is difficult to see the long term. It was time for a change.”

“It’s a business that I love and that has given me so much, but it’s also taken a toll on me,” he said.

Otto was a seven-year veteran of the company and participated in Cybertruck events and other launches. His departure is the latest in a series of executive departures that have shaken investors amid Tesla’s significant slowdown. Musk fired the entire Tesla Supercharger team, including its top executive, in late April. Days later, Allie Arebalo, Tesla’s top human resources executive, left the company. Meanwhile, during a pivotal conference call last month, longtime vice president of investor relations Martin Viecha announced at the end of the call that he was leaving Tesla. Viecha’s departure came shortly after the resignation of senior vice president Drew Baglino and the withdrawal of a $181 million stake in the company. Baglino had worked at Tesla for 18 years and was a stalwart among investors and analysts. Rohan Patel, the company’s vice president of public policy and business development, parted ways at the same time as Baglino.

Even Tesla’s summer internship program was not spared. The automaker rescinded intern offers just before they were set to begin, prompting Tesla employees to implore other companies to profit from its bloodshed. Meanwhile, this week, Tesla removed thousands of job postings in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico, leaving only three job postings.

Amid job cuts, investigators with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are looking into whether an online software update aimed at fixing problems with Tesla’s partially automated driving system fully resolved the technology-related issues. Tesla has reported 20 crashes since the patch was distributed to users. At the same time, Musk has touted his fully autonomous driving system to investors, saying it’s better than people think and that Tesla’s fleets will be fully autonomous and can be used to transport customers as they are not. used by owners.

Meanwhile, Musk and the company’s board are focused on reinstating his $45 billion compensation plan – the highest compensation package ever for a CEO – after A judge overturned it earlier this year.

Otto wished good luck to everyone who was laid off from his position. “I hope Tesla – and all employees affected by these layoffs – can get back on their feet soon. If there is anything I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

He stressed that he wouldn’t miss the company’s coffee shop. But what he will miss are the people.