Tesla’s abrupt dismissal of its global Supercharger team less than a month ago has taken a surprising turn, with reports indicating that the electric vehicle (EV) giant is now recalling some of the laid-off staff, signaling an unexpected reversal. In late April, overseas reports circulated regarding Tesla’s termination of Rebecca Tinucci, the head of its Supercharger division, along with her entire team comprising approximately 500 employees.
Allegedly, Ms. Tinucci resisted Tesla’s directive to reduce the department’s headcount, leading to the mass layoff of EV charging specialists, including Max de Zegher, the North American Director of Charging. The decision seemingly stemmed from Tesla’s announcement of first-quarter operating margins in 2024, which stood at 5.5 percent, down from 11.3 percent the previous year, coupled with a decline in new vehicle deliveries to their lowest levels since 2022.
However, Bloomberg reports that Mr. de Zegher has been reinstated, alongside an undisclosed number of former Supercharger team members, albeit without Ms. Tinucci. This reversal follows Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recent social media post on X (Twitter), reaffirming the company’s commitment to investing in EV charging technology.
Musk stated, “Tesla will spend well over $500M expanding our Supercharger network to create thousands of New chargers this year.” He emphasized that this investment includes new sites and expansions, excluding operational costs. Renowned for their reliability and extensive coverage, Tesla’s Superchargers are considered among the best in the industry and a key driver of the brand’s success.
However, the decision to downsize the global Supercharger team had ramifications in Australia, prompting reports of an indefinite pause in the rollout of additional Tesla Superchargers across the country. Subsequently, Tesla reached out to its Australian clientele via email, assuring them of the ongoing expansion of its Supercharger network.
The email underscored the company’s commitment to enhancing the charging experience, emphasizing ease of charging, competitive pricing, and holistic investment in the charging infrastructure. Despite the upheaval overseas, Tesla’s Australian sales have seen a positive trend, recording a 5.6 percent increase in the first four months of the year compared to the corresponding period in 2023, with 14,866 vehicles delivered to local customers.