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Martin Eberhard, Tesla Founder leaves....
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Written on: 05 December 2007 [00:25]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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From the Tesla Motor Club Forum: ++++ Yes it is true - I am no longer with Tesla Motors - neither on its Board of Directors nor an employee of any sort. I have also signed a non-disparagement agreement with Tesla, so I must. by contract, be a bit careful about how I word things. But I am also not going to lie about it. I am not at all happy with the way I was treated, and I do not think this was the very best way to handle a transition - not the best for Tesla Motors, not the best for Tesla's customers (to whom I still feel a strong sense of responsibility), and not for Tesla's investors. Silicon Valley has given us many examples of fast-growing startup companies that managed to find a home for its founders even as new management teams were brought in to manage the continued growth of the companies. Larry and Sergey over at Google are prime examples: they still drive the vision and technology of the company, and still define the public image of Google. But management of Google is now in the hands of seasoned professionals who know how to run and grow the company far beyond Larry and Sergey could have. But as Michael Marks likes to say, it is what it is. I am now part of Tesla's rather informal Advisory Board, and make myself available to Ze'ev, should he wish to avail himself of my experience. We shall see. Ze'ev is a bright and experienced guy. Unlike me, he's made a zillion dollars from his past ventures (MMI & Clifford) - so he has taken this position not for money. He's raced formula cars, and gets what a sports car should be. He seems to care a lot about global warming. As an Israeli, he is quite sensitive to the problem of oil dependency toward the Middle East. So I have reason to be hopeful, and I am motivated to see him succeed. For my part, I am a free man. I will probably spend the next 6 months thinking about my next venture. I still care about the things that concerned me 5 years ago, so I will look for another opportunity to contribute to solving the dual problems of global warming and oil dependency. Hopefully, I will begin posting my own blog at www.teslafounders.com. There's nothing up at that address yet, by maybe by New Years. Thanks for your support, Tesla fans. Martin __________________ Martin Eberhard Tesla Motors Founder ++++++ It seems not everything is running smooth for the Tesla at the moment. Hope that doesn't stop the cars development. The Tesla Club Forum can be found here: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com Twike 890
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Written on: 07 January 2008 [00:07]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
Topic creator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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And what were the real reasons why he left? Anyone knows? Twike 890
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Written on: 31 May 2008 [17:11]
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Lensman
 registered since: 31.05.2008
Posts: 75
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I don't have any insider info. The impression I get from reading Martin Eberhard's own personal blog, and the Tesla Motors Club forum, is that the various delays in getting the Roadster into production eventually resulted in the investors putting extreme pressure on the company to concentrate on getting the car into production. There did seem to be some tendency towards "The perfect driving out the good." Martin said in his blog that he would have been happy if the car had been produced with a single gear ratio (instead of the two-speed transmission they kept trying for), a fiberglass body, and other quick-and-dirty techniques to get the car into production. And of course, in the "irony is so thick it can be cut with a knife" category, Tesla Motors finally *did* decide to go with a single gear ratio; they got rid of the transmission and beefed up the electric motor to compensate-- but only did this after Eberhard had been kicked out. So, if Eberhard was more willing than other execs there to compromise to get the car into production, then it seems *he* was not the hold-up; so why was he kicked out? Again, I have no insider info, I can only guess that he was perceived or portrayed as not cooperating with the overall plan, and perhaps even as being obstructionist. Assuming that's true, the question remains how much of that was the inability of Eberhard to get along with the other executives-- or vice versa-- and how much of it was people looking for a scapegoat. What we *can* say is that around the same time or shortly after Eberhard was kicked out, the company became much less open about their progress and problems, and they dropped plans to provide a battery pack to an outside company (reportedly so they could better concentrate on their own production), and now they have-- finally-- gotten the car into production, albeit very slow production. As several blogs have noted, this sort of shake-out in the company, with about 10% of the personnel being fired, is typical of the sorts of problems start-ups have. It's not *necessarily* a sign that there is something seriously wrong at Tesla Motors. The company insists its vision is the same; they claim they're still committed to producing a lower-cost electric car aimed at a mass market. I hope this is true; only time will tell. [This article was edited 2 times, at last 04.06.2008 at 23:46.] |
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Written on: 17 June 2008 [00:10]
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Lensman
registered since: 31.05.2008
Posts: 75
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Well! I just noticed this comment by Martin Eberhard in response to a comment on one of his blogs: "Blaming the quality team for this is sort of like blaming the transmission for why I got canned. The real reason for both is the same: Elon’s ego." http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/doing-our-part/#comment-2175 So, there you have Eberhard's side of the story in a nutshell. Martin also complained he wasn't invited to a Founders' party at Tesla Motors; and that he was promised the second Roadster off the production line, but the #3 car was completed ahead of his. Obviously he's quite bitter. |
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