8 ms·

Tesla’s Engineering Chief Takes Leave of Absence at Pivotal Moment

72 points by dcgudeman 8y ago

gt565k 8y ago
Just like anything Trump seems to become a news article, so does anything Tesla. I can't even read the news without rolling my eyes and thinking WTF? An article about Trump or Elon Musk/Tesla even if it's completely uncalled for or factually incorrect seems to become "news". Journalistic quality has definitely gone downhill in the last decade or two.
- CydeWeys 8y ago
  Trump is the President of the United States. He's one of if not the most powerful person on the planet. If he doesn't deserve coverage, who does? The news media covered the "furor" over Obama's tan suit. They're damn well going to cover any real scandal involving Trump. It's their job. If this news doesn't interest you then don't read it.
  - ams6110 8y ago
    They cover the fake scandals too.
sunstone 8y ago
This timing seems about right to me. Most of the wrinkles appear to be out of the Model 3 production now. Designing the Model Y is about to start. Right now would be the right time to take some well deserved R&R.
- ClassyJacket 8y ago
  Yeah, with what information the general public has, this could just as easily be spun as 'Engineering chief takes well deserved break after months of crunch successfully implementing Model 3 mass production.' Even if output production isn't as high as was initially planned, doesn't mean it's a failure.
  - meritt 8y ago
    > successfully implementing Model 3 mass production For comparison on mass production: "more than 15 million Model Ts were manufactured in all, reaching a rate of 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day in 1925, or 2 million annually" [1]. Toyota was producing 13,400 units per day in 2014. Model3 is currently somewhere around 300 to 500 per day. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T
    - robbiep 8y ago
      What’s the point of the comparison? Model T manufacture started in 1908 and by the end of 1910 they had produced 12,000. By that comparison, model 3 is crushing it
      - meritt 8y ago
        Ford literally invented the assembly line. Tesla has a century of expertise to learn from. Tesla has also been producing ~2000/wk S&X's for almost two years now; however they just recently (last week of March) exceeded 2,000 3's in a week, 9 months into production.
        TaylorAlexander 8y ago
        The Model S came out in what, 2012? So by your own numbers it took 4 years to get to 2000/wk. 9 months is killin it!
        dpark 8y ago
        > Ford literally invented the assembly line. No, he didn’t. The assembly line existed before Ford applied it to cars.
    - heurist 8y ago
      Poor examples - Ford produced only the Model T for two decades. Toyota has been around for 80 years.
- ucaetano 8y ago
  Sure, but a 6-week sabbatical in a company struggling to keep up with planned production goals is largely unheard of.
  - LeifCarrotson 8y ago
    Which is a tragedy - people occasionally need to take breaks to be more productive.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - master-litty 8y ago
      6 weeks is quite the break, personally. Does that increase productivity more than 3 or 4 weeks, for example? Not saying we don't deserve that sort of time off, but it seems somewhat excessive given the circumstances.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - PakG1 8y ago
        Given the pace and pressure of everything they've been through and everything they're about to go through again, I'd say six weeks sounds about right.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
    - wpietri 8y ago
      Sure, and I think the reason he's taking a 6-week break now is that he failed to take sufficient breaks earlier. I've burnt out myself, and it's no joke. I wish him only the best. But to me the real risk here isn't "senior leader out for long, possibly indefinite period". It's "Tesla has been running a sprint, not a marathon." If somebody this high up is burnt out, what's it like for everybody else? Given Tesla's precarious cash position this is the time when they really need for things to go smoothly. But if people are at or near burnout, they'll be making mistakes, cutting corners, etc.
ggregoire 8y ago
Is it normal in America to be in the news when you take some vacations?
- fanzhang 8y ago
  I hope not, but I think it's normal for newspapers to maximize revenue by playing up potentially mundane events.
  - danso 8y ago
    Or maybe Tesla and/or its market position are not mundane.
- matte_black 8y ago
  A vacation of several weeks when you’re a chief? Most certainly. Investors need to know.
  - frisco 8y ago
    > Investors need to know. Really? That's nonsense. This sentiment is a great example of what's so toxic about the public markets now. Everyone is complaining that so much value creation is happening in private companies going public later - a big reason is because of this idea that investors should care about when one person at a 36,000 person company goes on vacation and that this should move the stock price. Ridiculous. It's distracting noise.
    - lhorie 8y ago
      I agree. There's gotta be a limit to how short-term-oriented/short-sighted investors can be. What's next? "Stock plunges when CEO goes to the bathroom"?
      - greglindahl 8y ago
        "Stock plunges when CEO gets testy on earnings call" -- that was last week's headline.
sheeshkebab 8y ago
Next up - Musk took a nap.
- theyinwhy 8y ago
  We already had those: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/elon-musk-says-he-is-sleeping-on-tesla-factory-floor-to-save-time.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/elon-musk-says-he-is-sleepin...
kerng 8y ago
6 weeks is not that long. To me a leave of absence that would be significant is more like 6-12+ months.
olivermarks 8y ago
It may be the looming post accident battery safety realities that has caused this...it's possible a massive recall or worse is in the works for Tesla given the volatility of damaged batteries catching fire repeatedly after accidents. https://electrek.co/2018/05/10/tesla-battery-reignited-days-after-catching-fire-crash-ntsb-investigate-fire-response/ https://electrek.co/2018/05/10/tesla-battery-reignited-days-...
- modeless 8y ago
  Why on Earth would that require a recall? Hundreds of gas powered cars catch fire every day. The only difference is first responders expect and know how to handle gas fires. They will learn to handle batteries too.
  - carlivar 8y ago
    It is the door handles I wonder about. They seem overcomplicated since they are electric servos I believe instead of typical mechanical handles. In a complete loss of power can the doors be opened? This is unclear to me. I don't own a Tesla and am genuinely wondering. The difference to a gas car could be that you can't get out of a Tesla if there is a fire. I think I read in a teardown of the Model 3 that the rear door handles didn't have mechanical options as a backup for safety. Overall I don't particularly like flashy overcomplicated things which is what these door handles seem to me. I'm curious for any rebuttal though.
    - greglindahl 8y ago
      Why would anyone rebut? Buy a car you like.
      - carlivar 8y ago
        Curiosity? Also I'm captivated by all the swings in TSLA stock I suppose.
        8y ago
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
Proven 8y ago
Outstanding! The Ponzi is crumbling! The sooner it goes bust the better for the taxpayer.
nodesocket 8y ago
How many times are we going to see outrage news that would lead us to believe a company is on the brick of disaster, yet the opposite occurs. Instead of using emotions, let me present facts with stock prices: United Airlines passenger pulled off PR disaster stock was up 13% 3 months later. Facebook cambridge analytica at lows at $160. Today $FB closed at $186.99. Tesla report of death while car was in autopilot and public outrage over Elon's handling of investor quarterly call. May 3rd $TSLA trades down to $285. Today $TSLA closed at $301. Apple, all analysts go bullish saying X is not selling, suppliers reporting down, consumers complaining about minor details, the end is near for Apple. Trades down to $160 April 27th. Instead Apple crushes quarter, huge $100B stock buyback, divy increase... up 15%. Cook praises Tax reform. In nearly every circumstance where public outrage and news blasts a solid US company for some minor incident, it has been profitable to buy the dip. I can provide many more examples if so desired.
- vasco 8y ago
  It's almost as if journalists aren't actual stock market analysts. Media in general suffers from believing their own lies. News rooms hype up stories with outrage based on "it is said that..." kind of stories, which then generate clicks, and somehow think this has anything to do with companies bottom lines.
  - moomin 8y ago
    Yeah, I remember when Enron used to shrug off negative news by showing their stock price graphs. The market doesn’t always price in bad news, until it does.
    - nodesocket 8y ago
      Do you honestly believe Tesla and Elon are flat out lying and committing fraud like Enron/Skilling though? If you do, that is fine, but I'd be curious to hear your argument.
      - personjerry 8y ago
southern_cross 8y ago
I read an article quite a while back (might be a couple of years ago now) that did the math and concluded that, unless some serious "magic" happened, Tesla was going to lose major coin on every Model 3 sold. Then I read an article just a couple of days ago that said that, in fact, Tesla IS losing major coin on every Model 3 sold. Who knew?
yani 8y ago
The whole notion of the article is that taking time off is wrong. No, it is not. For what we know, the person taking time off could be sick, mentaly or phisically. The author of the article needs to be more humane.
nenuko 8y ago
Damn, does the corporate welfare lord have an army of cronies spinning here?

72 points by dcgudeman 8y ago

Just like anything Trump seems to become a news article, so does anything Tesla. I can't even read the news without rolling my eyes and thinking WTF? An article about Trump or Elon Musk/Tesla even if it's completely uncalled for or factually incorrect seems to become "news". Journalistic quality has definitely gone downhill in the last decade or two.

CydeWeys 8y ago
Trump is the President of the United States. He's one of if not the most powerful person on the planet. If he doesn't deserve coverage, who does? The news media covered the "furor" over Obama's tan suit. They're damn well going to cover any real scandal involving Trump. It's their job. If this news doesn't interest you then don't read it.
- ams6110 8y ago
  They cover the fake scandals too.

sunstone 8y ago

This timing seems about right to me. Most of the wrinkles appear to be out of the Model 3 production now. Designing the Model Y is about to start. Right now would be the right time to take some well deserved R&R.

ClassyJacket 8y ago
Yeah, with what information the general public has, this could just as easily be spun as 'Engineering chief takes well deserved break after months of crunch successfully implementing Model 3 mass production.' Even if output production isn't as high as was initially planned, doesn't mean it's a failure.
- meritt 8y ago
  > successfully implementing Model 3 mass production For comparison on mass production: "more than 15 million Model Ts were manufactured in all, reaching a rate of 9,000 to 10,000 cars a day in 1925, or 2 million annually" [1]. Toyota was producing 13,400 units per day in 2014. Model3 is currently somewhere around 300 to 500 per day. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T
  - robbiep 8y ago
    What’s the point of the comparison? Model T manufacture started in 1908 and by the end of 1910 they had produced 12,000. By that comparison, model 3 is crushing it
    - meritt 8y ago
      Ford literally invented the assembly line. Tesla has a century of expertise to learn from. Tesla has also been producing ~2000/wk S&X's for almost two years now; however they just recently (last week of March) exceeded 2,000 3's in a week, 9 months into production.
      - TaylorAlexander 8y ago
        The Model S came out in what, 2012? So by your own numbers it took 4 years to get to 2000/wk. 9 months is killin it!
      - dpark 8y ago
        > Ford literally invented the assembly line. No, he didn’t. The assembly line existed before Ford applied it to cars.
  - heurist 8y ago
    Poor examples - Ford produced only the Model T for two decades. Toyota has been around for 80 years.
ucaetano 8y ago
Sure, but a 6-week sabbatical in a company struggling to keep up with planned production goals is largely unheard of.
- LeifCarrotson 8y ago
  Which is a tragedy - people occasionally need to take breaks to be more productive.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - master-litty 8y ago
    6 weeks is quite the break, personally. Does that increase productivity more than 3 or 4 weeks, for example? Not saying we don't deserve that sort of time off, but it seems somewhat excessive given the circumstances.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - PakG1 8y ago
      Given the pace and pressure of everything they've been through and everything they're about to go through again, I'd say six weeks sounds about right.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - wpietri 8y ago
    Sure, and I think the reason he's taking a 6-week break now is that he failed to take sufficient breaks earlier. I've burnt out myself, and it's no joke. I wish him only the best. But to me the real risk here isn't "senior leader out for long, possibly indefinite period". It's "Tesla has been running a sprint, not a marathon." If somebody this high up is burnt out, what's it like for everybody else? Given Tesla's precarious cash position this is the time when they really need for things to go smoothly. But if people are at or near burnout, they'll be making mistakes, cutting corners, etc.

ggregoire 8y ago

Is it normal in America to be in the news when you take some vacations?

fanzhang 8y ago
I hope not, but I think it's normal for newspapers to maximize revenue by playing up potentially mundane events.
- danso 8y ago
  Or maybe Tesla and/or its market position are not mundane.
matte_black 8y ago
A vacation of several weeks when you’re a chief? Most certainly. Investors need to know.
- frisco 8y ago
  > Investors need to know. Really? That's nonsense. This sentiment is a great example of what's so toxic about the public markets now. Everyone is complaining that so much value creation is happening in private companies going public later - a big reason is because of this idea that investors should care about when one person at a 36,000 person company goes on vacation and that this should move the stock price. Ridiculous. It's distracting noise.
  - lhorie 8y ago
    I agree. There's gotta be a limit to how short-term-oriented/short-sighted investors can be. What's next? "Stock plunges when CEO goes to the bathroom"?
    - greglindahl 8y ago
      "Stock plunges when CEO gets testy on earnings call" -- that was last week's headline.

sheeshkebab 8y ago

Next up - Musk took a nap.

theyinwhy 8y ago
We already had those: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/elon-musk-says-he-is-sleeping-on-tesla-factory-floor-to-save-time.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/11/elon-musk-says-he-is-sleepin...

kerng 8y ago

6 weeks is not that long. To me a leave of absence that would be significant is more like 6-12+ months.

olivermarks 8y ago

It may be the looming post accident battery safety realities that has caused this...it's possible a massive recall or worse is in the works for Tesla given the volatility of damaged batteries catching fire repeatedly after accidents. https://electrek.co/2018/05/10/tesla-battery-reignited-days-after-catching-fire-crash-ntsb-investigate-fire-response/ https://electrek.co/2018/05/10/tesla-battery-reignited-days-...

modeless 8y ago
Why on Earth would that require a recall? Hundreds of gas powered cars catch fire every day. The only difference is first responders expect and know how to handle gas fires. They will learn to handle batteries too.
- carlivar 8y ago
  It is the door handles I wonder about. They seem overcomplicated since they are electric servos I believe instead of typical mechanical handles. In a complete loss of power can the doors be opened? This is unclear to me. I don't own a Tesla and am genuinely wondering. The difference to a gas car could be that you can't get out of a Tesla if there is a fire. I think I read in a teardown of the Model 3 that the rear door handles didn't have mechanical options as a backup for safety. Overall I don't particularly like flashy overcomplicated things which is what these door handles seem to me. I'm curious for any rebuttal though.
  - greglindahl 8y ago
    Why would anyone rebut? Buy a car you like.
    - carlivar 8y ago
      Curiosity? Also I'm captivated by all the swings in TSLA stock I suppose.
      - 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

Proven 8y ago

Outstanding! The Ponzi is crumbling! The sooner it goes bust the better for the taxpayer.

nodesocket 8y ago

How many times are we going to see outrage news that would lead us to believe a company is on the brick of disaster, yet the opposite occurs. Instead of using emotions, let me present facts with stock prices: United Airlines passenger pulled off PR disaster stock was up 13% 3 months later. Facebook cambridge analytica at lows at $160. Today $FB closed at $186.99. Tesla report of death while car was in autopilot and public outrage over Elon's handling of investor quarterly call. May 3rd $TSLA trades down to $285. Today $TSLA closed at $301. Apple, all analysts go bullish saying X is not selling, suppliers reporting down, consumers complaining about minor details, the end is near for Apple. Trades down to $160 April 27th. Instead Apple crushes quarter, huge $100B stock buyback, divy increase... up 15%. Cook praises Tax reform. In nearly every circumstance where public outrage and news blasts a solid US company for some minor incident, it has been profitable to buy the dip. I can provide many more examples if so desired.

vasco 8y ago
It's almost as if journalists aren't actual stock market analysts. Media in general suffers from believing their own lies. News rooms hype up stories with outrage based on "it is said that..." kind of stories, which then generate clicks, and somehow think this has anything to do with companies bottom lines.
- moomin 8y ago
  Yeah, I remember when Enron used to shrug off negative news by showing their stock price graphs. The market doesn’t always price in bad news, until it does.
  - nodesocket 8y ago
    Do you honestly believe Tesla and Elon are flat out lying and committing fraud like Enron/Skilling though? If you do, that is fine, but I'd be curious to hear your argument.
    - personjerry 8y ago

southern_cross 8y ago

I read an article quite a while back (might be a couple of years ago now) that did the math and concluded that, unless some serious "magic" happened, Tesla was going to lose major coin on every Model 3 sold. Then I read an article just a couple of days ago that said that, in fact, Tesla IS losing major coin on every Model 3 sold. Who knew?

yani 8y ago

The whole notion of the article is that taking time off is wrong. No, it is not. For what we know, the person taking time off could be sick, mentaly or phisically. The author of the article needs to be more humane.

nenuko 8y ago

Damn, does the corporate welfare lord have an army of cronies spinning here?