Is Martin Eberhard still with Tesla Motors?

donauker · 11-30-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Consistent with the completion of the CEO search for Tesla Motors, Martin Eberhard, co-founder of Tesla Motors, has transitioned from the board of directors and executive management of the company to the advisory board. As a member of the advisory board, Martin will continue to actively support the goals and efforts of the company.

Ze’ev Drori, incoming President and CEO of Tesla Motors, commented, “As I join Tesla Motors, it is extraordinary to see what has been accomplished in such a short time by Martin Eberhard and the employees of this company. As an entrepreneur, I deeply appreciate the hard work and passion that goes into founding a company and building something from nothing. I admire Martin’s tremendous vision and skills and wish him the very best.”

After receiving this I checked their web site and found that Martin is not listed as part of the Tesla team or as a board member. The Investor page doesn't even list him by name but rather lists the Eberhard Family. Makes me wonder what on earth has happened at Tesla Motors.

dsacks6 · 11-30-2007, 08:45 PM

"Is Martin Eberhard still with Tesla Motors?"

No, he is not.

mt2 · 11-30-2007, 10:06 PM

Oh my god.

I am anxiously awaiting news from Martin or Caroline - I hope they post soon. I also hope that this is a decision that Martin and Caroline made rather than having it thrust upon them.

From an outsider's view, Martin has poured his heart and soul into Tesla and will always be - in many of our eyes - the man who changed the world. I hope he continues to be the voice of reason and change in the automotive industry.

Moreover, I wish the Eberhard family well in whatever endeavors they take up next. Even if that's just a well earned vacation.

TEG · 12-01-2007, 01:22 AM

I second what mt2 just said.

I don't think Martin was planning an exit like this on his own, so it may well have been a decision made for him. If so, that sucks.

WarpedOne · 12-01-2007, 05:39 AM

Whitestar will be yet another hybrid. In 5 years there will be no Tesla Motors. This happens if a men of vision is let go.

Sad.

malcolm · 12-01-2007, 06:25 AM

Nah

I don't buy this. Something's got lost in translation. It's just part of the process of giving the new CEO sufficient elbow room. It's the final stage in Martin handing over the office practice putter and confirming his role as Technology Guy. The announcement is just formally recognising the end of martin and michael's tenureship in senior management.

It's badly worded of course, but then some CEOs do tend to assume that if you drop out of senior management, you cease to exist :)

tesla need to clarify this announcement quickly

BlackbirdHighway · 12-01-2007, 07:18 AM

I thought the memo was pretty clear that Martin is no longer with the company. He is now on the advisory board, which I see as a face saving gesture and a recognition of his many major contributions to the company, and the fact that Martin must still be a major shareholder.

Tesla has been revolutionary in that it completely changed perceptions of the electric car and the electric car's prospects for the future. (Something the EV1 almost did, and would have if they had kept with it.)

It prompted mainstream carmakers to either launch new EV programs, or vastly accelerate ones they already had on the backburner. Future electric cars will be judged on how they compare to the Tesla. In France, the word for refrigerator is "Frigidaire" . In the future, the word for EVs might be "Tesla".

I've never met Mr. Musk, but from what I gather, he must be a very strongly opnionated guy, and I can imagine that Eberhard and Musk must have "knocked heads" on many occasions. It's sad to see Martin go, but at least he accomplished incredible things while he was there, and will always be recognized for being the visionary behind the new EV revolution.

malcolm · 12-01-2007, 07:44 AM

My "say it ain't so" reaction is looking more and more unrealistic.

Damn.

dsacks6 · 12-01-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolm

My "say it ain't so" reaction is looking more and more unrealistic.

Damn.

Martin is no longer part of Tesla Motors. He also did not simply leave.

donauker · 12-01-2007, 10:38 AM

Based on the fact that Martin was removed from the company team section of the Tesla Motors web site, my original thread heading question was pretty much a rhetorical question. I too hoped there was some way to misread the evidence but I couldn’t think of any other explanation.

I am generally rather careful in making purchases, especially large ones. My decision to place a deposit was made after coming to know Martin through his blog writings and sensing his determination and excitement for the Roadster. My trust in Tesla Motors was due to my trust in Martin Eberhard. Today that trust is gone. As a company founder myself, I have no trust in a company funded by money men who could kick aside a visionary such as Martin. Especially before he could realize the very first step of his dream through seeing customer deliveries of the Roadster begin.

There will need to be some real explanation of these events before I will feel comfortable with Tesla Motors again.