Tesla executives Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel announced their departure from the electric vehicle maker and clean energy company. Baglino had been with Tesla since 2006, starting as a firmware and electrical engineer and eventually serving as senior vice president for powertrain and energy engineering. Patel joined Tesla in 2016 after working as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama on climate and energy issues. Both executives were deeply involved in battery and vehicle manufacturing, as well as turning Tesla into a multinational EV manufacturer. They were less involved in autonomous vehicle technology at Tesla.
Baglino expressed gratitude for his time at Tesla in a post on the social network X, saying he had made the difficult decision to move on after 18 years. He highlighted the talented people he had worked with and thanked them for their contributions to the mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. Musk responded to Baglino’s post, thanking him for his contributions to Tesla. Patel also shared his gratitude for his time at Tesla, reflecting on the impact of his immigrant parents’ hard work and expressing honor in working with Obama and positively affecting multiple industries. Musk thanked Patel for his contributions as well.
The news of Baglino and Patel’s departure comes as Tesla announced layoffs of more than 10% of its workforce. Reuters reported that Tesla has changed its strategy to focus on developing a “robotaxi” rather than producing a more affordable new electric vehicle. The company faces stiff competition from Chinese automakers like BYD in the electric vehicle market. The shift in strategy includes a greater emphasis on developing autonomous vehicle technology.
Despite Baglino and Patel’s departure, Tesla has not yet updated its corporate webpage to reflect the change in leadership. Musk mentioned in a post on X that the company needs to reorganize and streamline every five years to prepare for the next phase of growth. The departure of Baglino and Patel, who were key figures in battery and vehicle manufacturing at Tesla, may impact the company’s future projects and strategic direction. The executives were recognized by Musk for their contributions to advancing Tesla’s mission of sustainable energy.
Baglino and Patel’s departure from Tesla marks the end of their significant contributions to the company’s growth and development. Both executives had been involved in various aspects of Tesla’s operations, from battery and vehicle manufacturing to policy matters related to clean energy. The departure of such key figures may lead to changes in Tesla’s future direction and strategic focus, as the company continues to navigate a competitive market and evolving technological landscape. Musk’s acknowledgment of their contributions and the need for periodic reorganization within the company suggests a new phase of growth and development for Tesla in the coming years.
