Tesla executives Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel recently made the decision to leave the innovative electric vehicle maker and clean energy company. This news comes at a challenging time for the company, as they have recently announced layoffs affecting more than 10% of their workforce.
Drew Baglino has been an integral part of Tesla since its early years, starting as a firmware and electrical engineer back in 2006. Over the years, he has risen through the ranks to become the company’s senior vice president for powertrain and energy engineering. Despite his departure, Baglino expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with incredibly talented individuals at Tesla and contribute to the mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.
Rohan Patel, who joined Tesla in 2016 after serving as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, has also decided to move on from the company. His contributions to Tesla in the areas of battery and vehicle manufacturing, policy development, and the transformation of the company into a global EV manufacturer have been significant. Patel expressed his appreciation for the opportunities he has had at Tesla and his immigrant parents’ hard work that has led to his success.
Tesla’s decision to shift its strategy away from developing a more affordable electric vehicle towards focusing on a “robotaxi” has raised eyebrows in the industry. The competition from Chinese automakers like BYD, who offer more affordable electric cars, has forced Tesla to rethink its approach. Although Baglino and Patel were not directly involved in autonomous vehicle technology at Tesla, their departure signifies a changing landscape for the company.
The departures of Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel from Tesla mark the end of an era for the electric vehicle manufacturer. Their contributions to the company’s success and growth have been significant, and their departures leave a void that will need to be filled by new leaders. As Tesla moves forward with its new strategy, the industry will be watching closely to see how they adapt to the changing market dynamics.