Tesla executives Drew Baglino and Rohan Patel announced their departure from the company on X, the social network owned by CEO Elon Musk. Baglino had been with Tesla since 2006, working as a firmware and electrical engineer before becoming the senior vice president for powertrain and energy engineering. Patel joined Tesla in 2016 after serving 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 policy matters related to turning Tesla into a multinational EV manufacturer.
Recent reports suggest that Tesla has shifted its strategy away from developing a more affordable electric vehicle, focusing instead on the development of a “robotaxi” and facing competition from Chinese automakers like BYD. Baglino and Patel were less involved in autonomous vehicle technology at Tesla. Baglino expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with talented individuals at Tesla for 18 years and to contribute to the mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. Musk thanked both departing executives for their contributions to the company on X.
Patel also shared his gratitude for his time at Tesla, highlighting the emotional journey he had been on during his eight years with the company. He mentioned his immigrant parents’ hard work and expressed his gratitude for being able to work with Obama and be a part of Tesla’s positive impact on various industries. Musk thanked Patel for his contributions to Tesla and expressed his appreciation for his work. Musk further stated that reorganizing and streamlining the company every five years is essential for preparing for the next phase of growth.
As of Monday morning, Tesla had not updated its corporate webpage to reflect Baglino’s departure, indicating that the news may have been recent. Baglino and Patel were not immediately available for comment on their departures. The announcement of their leaving comes at a time when Tesla is laying off more than 10% of its workforce, suggesting a period of restructuring and change within the company. Despite the departures of key executives, Musk emphasized the importance of reorganizing for growth and the continued mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy.
