Elon Musk’s sudden decision to lay off employees responsible for managing Tesla’s electric vehicle charging business came as a surprise to automakers preparing to integrate the Tesla Supercharger network into their new EVs, industry insiders and analysts revealed on Tuesday.
General Motors, Ford, and other automakers, which had previously struck deals to provide customers with access to the Supercharger network, stated that they are maintaining their current plans despite Tesla’s unexpected move.
Tesla’s decision to open its network to rival EV manufacturers received praise from U.S. President Joe Biden and paved the way for the company to receive federal subsidies for expanding its North American Charging Standard (NACS) system.
However, Musk’s decision to dismiss the head of the business, Rebecca Tinucci, along with most or all of the staff responsible for operating and maintaining the system, left officials at automakers and Tesla suppliers uncertain about the network’s future.
Although Tesla did not respond to requests for comment, Musk later stated on X that the company still intends to expand the Supercharger network, albeit at a slower pace, with a focus on ensuring 100% uptime and enhancing existing locations.
Andres Pinter, co-CEO of Bullet EV Charging Solutions, a supplier to the network, expressed concern, stating, “As contractors for the Supercharger network, my team woke up to a sharp kick in the pants this morning.”
Pinter speculated, “There’s no way Mr. Musk would walk away from effectively free money,” referring to Tesla’s prior funding under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. “It may be possible Mr. Musk will reconstitute the EV charger team in bigger, badder, more Muskian way.”
Despite the uncertainty, both GM and Ford confirmed that they are not altering their plans to equip their EVs with connectors allowing drivers to recharge at Tesla stations.
“We have nothing new to announce regarding our plans,” GM stated, while Ford added, “We are continuing to monitor the situation regarding changes to the Supercharger team and the potential impacts with no further comments or updates at this time.”
