Poor Elon Musk really, really can’t catch a break. Just over the past couple of weeks he’s been forced to push back his Model 3 delivery schedule due to some “production hell” issues (like not knowing how to weld…a fairly critical component of auto manufacturing), got one-upped by Daimler who beat him to the punch by revealing an all-electric semi-truck earlier today (several weeks ahead of Elon), was sued by former employees who alleged a “hostile and racist work environment” in his Fremont plant…and the list goes on and on.
Now, according to a report from CNBC, Tesla’s mass firings have spread to SolarCity, a company which Musk just purchased last year despite warnings from concerned shareholders that it would be nothing more than a distraction. While it’s unclear how many people have been fired from each division, former employees estimate that some 1,200 people have been let go in total between the various Tesla entities.
Employee dismissals at Tesla are continuing, according to six former and current employees, and have spread from its motor division to SolarCity offices across the U.S.
Echoing reports from earlier this month, these SolarCity employees say they were surprised to be told they were fired for performance reasons, claiming Tesla had not conducted performance reviews since acquiring the solar energy business.
All the people spoke under condition of anonymity, citing fears of retaliation from Tesla.
Tesla had already announced plans to lay off 205 SolarCity employees at its Roseville, California, office by the end of October this year. However, SolarCity employees across the country have been fired in the last two weeks — not just in California, but also in Nevada, Arizona, Utah and beyond, according to these employees.
Two former employees told CNBC that the Roseville office was being completely shut down. A Tesla spokesperson said the office will remain open with about 50 full-time employees.
The total number of dismissals could not be determined. However, former employees estimate around 1,200 people have been fired in the company’s wave of dismissals at Tesla including SolarCity. That figure does not include previously announced layoffs.
