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Musk disbands Tesla EV charging group, leaving customers in the dark

Elon Musk's abrupt decision to lay off employees who ran Tesla's electric vehicle charging company blindsided car manufacturers preparing to gear up new EVs for customers to use the Tesla Supercharger network, industry officials and experts stated on Tuesday.

In the meantime, General Motors, Ford and other automakers which struck deals last year to give clients access to the network said they are not changing their strategies.

Tesla's decision to open its network to rival EV manufacturers was hailed by U.S. President Joe Biden, and opened the door for Tesla to get federal aids to broaden the reach of its North American Charging Standard (NACS) system.

Musk's choice to dismiss the head of business, Rebecca Tinucci, and most or all of the personnel that operated and preserved the system, according to 2 former workers and numerous postings on LinkedIn, left authorities at automakers and Tesla suppliers unpredictable about the future.

Tesla did not react to ask for remark.

Musk subsequently stated on X that the carmaker still plans to expand the Supercharger network, just at a slower rate for new locations and more concentrate on 100% uptime and expansion of existing places.

Andres Pinter, co-CEO of Bullet EV Charging Solutions, a. provider to the network, said, As contractors for the. Supercharger network, my group woke up to a sharp begin the. pants this morning.

Tesla has actually currently been granted cash under the federal. federal government's mole program, he said, describing the National. Electric Vehicle Facilities formula program to provide. funding to states to release EV charging networks.

There's no way Mr. Musk would walk away from effectively. free cash. It might be possible Mr. Musk will reconstitute the EV. charger group in bigger, badder, more Muskian method.

GM and Ford, in separate declarations, stated they are not. altering strategies to equip their EVs with connectors that will. enable chauffeurs of Chevrolet, Cadillac or Ford brand name EVs to. recharge at Tesla stations.

We have absolutely nothing brand-new to reveal concerning our strategies, GM. stated. We are continuing to keep track of the scenario concerning. modifications to the Supercharger group and the prospective impacts with. no additional comments or updates at this time.

' NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE'

Some industry executives and analysts stated Musk might have. disbanded the existing Supercharger organization to build a. leaner and more economical group to run the operations.

However, Musk explained in a call with experts previously. this month that he is concentrated on chances in artificial. intelligence, robotics and self-governing robotaxis.

In this layoff, nothing is off the table, Wedbush. Securities analyst Dan Ives stated. Musk is attempting to send a. signal internally that the trouble that Tesla is going. through, they're going to have to make tough decisions. ... It. shows there is severe expense focus.

Tesla recently reported lower first-quarter profits and its. first quarterly profits decline since 2021. Even after a surge. over the past week, Tesla shares are down 22% for the year.

With sales of Tesla's EVs falling and revenue margins under. increasing pressure, Musk could be cutting Supercharger network. investing to conserve money for other projects with more growth. possible, experts said.

Tesla is aiming to ideal size its (capital spending) and. operating expenses over the next number of years as the company. is in a slower growth phase, Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein. said.

More standard automakers may hold on to a business that. promised stable profits and near-continuous information exchanges with. consumers, experts stated. However Musk could take a Silicon Valley. entrepreneur's view that charging is a tradition service that. could be streamlined or even divested.

My guess is that now that the industry has actually adopted the NACS. basic, he sees Turbo charging less as a tactical moat and. more as an expense center, stated KC Boyce, a vice president at data. analytics firm Escalent.

The Tesla Supercharger network might have significant worth. if Musk wished to offer it, experts stated. Rival U.S. charging. networks have actually struggled with dependability problems and do not. have the scale or prime locations Tesla has actually secured.

Seven big car manufacturers, consisting of Mercedes, GM,. Stellantis, Honda, BMW and. Hyundai-Kia last year formed a joint venture called. Ionna to develop a fast-charging network to take on the. Tesla Supercharger network.

(source: Reuters)