In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley and Wall Street alike, Tesla’s board of directors is reportedly initiating a formal search for a new CEO, potentially marking the end of Elon Musk’s turbulent yet transformative reign over the electric vehicle giant.
According to sources close to the matter, the board has grown increasingly concerned with Musk’s distracting ventures, controversial public behavior, and time split across multiple companies, including SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), Neuralink, and xAI.
“Tesla needs focused, stable leadership now more than ever,” one board member, who requested anonymity, told a financial outlet. “Elon has changed the world — but it may be time for someone else to lead Tesla into its next phase.”
Tensions Behind the Scenes
While Elon Musk remains one of the most visionary figures in modern tech, insiders say his relationship with Tesla’s board has become strained over the past year. Concerns reportedly include:
- Declining stock performance amid growing EV competition from China and legacy automakers.
- Ongoing delays in key projects like the Cybertruck and Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
- Musk’s erratic social media presence, including political commentary and polarizing memes.
- His increasing absence from day-to-day operations.
Board members are said to have discussed possible successors, including internal executives such as Tom Zhu, Tesla’s head of global manufacturing, and Drew Baglino, senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering.
Musk Responds with Defiance
In true Elon Musk fashion, the billionaire responded on X with a cryptic and sarcastic post:
“Funny how some people forget who built the rocket ship they’re riding in.”
He later added:
“I’m not going anywhere. But if the board wants a fight, they’ll get one.”
Despite the bravado, analysts say this could be Musk’s biggest leadership test yet.
Wall Street Reacts
Tesla shares fell by 6.4% in after-hours trading following the news, reflecting investor uncertainty over the company’s leadership future. Some investors view the possible transition as necessary, while others fear that Tesla without Musk might lose its innovation-driven identity.
“Musk is Tesla, for better or worse,” said Dan Ives, a senior analyst at Wedbush Securities. “Replacing him would be like Apple replacing Steve Jobs in 2008 — bold, risky, and potentially disastrous.”
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