Background
When I first heard about Tesla Motors, and the Roadster, in the Fall of 2006, I was highly skeptical that anyone could build a vehicle with the kind of performance and efficiency that was being claimed. However, I was intrigued, so I read everything that I could find about the company and the car. I watched the videos on Youtube, I read the website, including the white papers, and I scoured the media outlets for news stories about Tesla. As many of you know, back then, there were two people who were the face of TM: Martin Eberhard and Elon Musk. Both seemed to be intelligent, likable guys with a genuine enthusiasm for what they were doing, and a vision for the future that was both inspiring and uplifting. For someone like me, who was extremely concerned about humanity's impact on the planet, this company and this car seemed to be one small part of "the solution", reducing the World's reliance on oil, and demonstrating that there were other, potentially better ways, to transport people in their daily lives. For me, and many others, Tesla Motors was a bright beacon on an otherwise gloomy horizon.
Trouble in Paradise
The first hint to the outside world that things at Tesla Motors were not quite as rosy as would appear was the announcement in August 2007 that Martin was being replaced as CEO by interim CEO, Michael Marks. Initially this set off alarm bells for me, but as I read the press release, and considered the rationalization for the move, as well as comments by Martin himself that this was in the best interest of the company, my concerns were allayed. Now I see that move in a different light. I see it as the first step towards the door. Apparently Elon Musk does not like to share the spotlight with anyone.
Of course, the real bombshell came at the beginning of December 2007 when we found out that Martin had “transitioned to the Advisory Board”. We now all know what that really meant, and it was our first taste of Tesla Motors new attitude towards the truth and transparency. We had to wait to hear from Martin before we got some straight talk, and his words confirmed our fears:
“Yes it is true - I am no longer with Tesla Motors”.
Due to concerns about legal retaliation from Tesla Motors, Martin could share very little information about his ejection from the company that he and Marc Tarpenning had created and guided through its difficult first five years. Tesla Motors had gagged him with the threat of litigation that they could afford, but he could not. The coup was complete, and Martin’s baby had been abducted by aliens… so to speak.
Martin’s Contribution
Apart from the initial brilliant idea to create a high performance EV that was powered by commodity lithium ion batteries, Martin overcame numerous business and technical hurdles in order to bring us the Tesla Roadster. From the almost hopeless task of finding funding for a “start-up electric car company”, to finding the right people (such as J.B. Straubel & Barney Hatt), to the numerous technical hurdles involved in designing and building the energy storage system (the “battery pack”), the power electronics module (PEM), and the high efficiency AC induction motor, Martin demonstrated resourcefulness, intelligence, persistence, and vision. He did all this while maintaining a commitment to openness and honesty that may be unprecedented in the business world. He also did this while diplomatically running interference from the “money man”. Without Martin Eberhard there would be no Tesla Motors and no Tesla Roadster, period.
Why “rock the boat” Chris?
There are many reasons, let me see if I can explain some of them. First, I need to ask each of you some questions. Do you truly believe that Tesla Motors is a better company now that Martin has been unceremoniously discarded like yesterday’s news? Do you believe that Tesla Motors is now more forthright and open than it was under Martin’s leadership? Do you believe that there would be fewer Roadsters on the road now, or more, if Martin were still CEO of Tesla Motors? Do you believe that the rightful leader, and the most effective leader, for Tesla Motors is Martin Eberhard?
I will let you decide on your own answers to these questions, but I will tell you what I believe.
I believe that under Martin’s leadership Tesla Motors was more productive, progressive, and honest. Without interference from Elon Musk, I believe the Roadster could have begun regular production months earlier, and so there would be far more Roadsters delivered to customers today. I believe that the rightful leader, and the best person for the job, at Tesla Motors is Martin Eberhard, and I believe that it is our obligation as EV enthusiasts and Tesla Motors fans and customers to make our voices heard in the boardroom. If you feel the same way that I do, I would encourage you to add your name to the list of people on this thread and throw your support behind the campaign to reinstate Martin Eberhard as CEO of Tesla Motors.
Thank you.
All the best,
Chris Harvey.
When I first heard about Tesla Motors, and the Roadster, in the Fall of 2006, I was highly skeptical that anyone could build a vehicle with the kind of performance and efficiency that was being claimed. However, I was intrigued, so I read everything that I could find about the company and the car. I watched the videos on Youtube, I read the website, including the white papers, and I scoured the media outlets for news stories about Tesla. As many of you know, back then, there were two people who were the face of TM: Martin Eberhard and Elon Musk. Both seemed to be intelligent, likable guys with a genuine enthusiasm for what they were doing, and a vision for the future that was both inspiring and uplifting. For someone like me, who was extremely concerned about humanity's impact on the planet, this company and this car seemed to be one small part of "the solution", reducing the World's reliance on oil, and demonstrating that there were other, potentially better ways, to transport people in their daily lives. For me, and many others, Tesla Motors was a bright beacon on an otherwise gloomy horizon.
Trouble in Paradise
The first hint to the outside world that things at Tesla Motors were not quite as rosy as would appear was the announcement in August 2007 that Martin was being replaced as CEO by interim CEO, Michael Marks. Initially this set off alarm bells for me, but as I read the press release, and considered the rationalization for the move, as well as comments by Martin himself that this was in the best interest of the company, my concerns were allayed. Now I see that move in a different light. I see it as the first step towards the door. Apparently Elon Musk does not like to share the spotlight with anyone.
Of course, the real bombshell came at the beginning of December 2007 when we found out that Martin had “transitioned to the Advisory Board”. We now all know what that really meant, and it was our first taste of Tesla Motors new attitude towards the truth and transparency. We had to wait to hear from Martin before we got some straight talk, and his words confirmed our fears:
“Yes it is true - I am no longer with Tesla Motors”.
Due to concerns about legal retaliation from Tesla Motors, Martin could share very little information about his ejection from the company that he and Marc Tarpenning had created and guided through its difficult first five years. Tesla Motors had gagged him with the threat of litigation that they could afford, but he could not. The coup was complete, and Martin’s baby had been abducted by aliens… so to speak.
Martin’s Contribution
Apart from the initial brilliant idea to create a high performance EV that was powered by commodity lithium ion batteries, Martin overcame numerous business and technical hurdles in order to bring us the Tesla Roadster. From the almost hopeless task of finding funding for a “start-up electric car company”, to finding the right people (such as J.B. Straubel & Barney Hatt), to the numerous technical hurdles involved in designing and building the energy storage system (the “battery pack”), the power electronics module (PEM), and the high efficiency AC induction motor, Martin demonstrated resourcefulness, intelligence, persistence, and vision. He did all this while maintaining a commitment to openness and honesty that may be unprecedented in the business world. He also did this while diplomatically running interference from the “money man”. Without Martin Eberhard there would be no Tesla Motors and no Tesla Roadster, period.
Why “rock the boat” Chris?
There are many reasons, let me see if I can explain some of them. First, I need to ask each of you some questions. Do you truly believe that Tesla Motors is a better company now that Martin has been unceremoniously discarded like yesterday’s news? Do you believe that Tesla Motors is now more forthright and open than it was under Martin’s leadership? Do you believe that there would be fewer Roadsters on the road now, or more, if Martin were still CEO of Tesla Motors? Do you believe that the rightful leader, and the most effective leader, for Tesla Motors is Martin Eberhard?
I will let you decide on your own answers to these questions, but I will tell you what I believe.
I believe that under Martin’s leadership Tesla Motors was more productive, progressive, and honest. Without interference from Elon Musk, I believe the Roadster could have begun regular production months earlier, and so there would be far more Roadsters delivered to customers today. I believe that the rightful leader, and the best person for the job, at Tesla Motors is Martin Eberhard, and I believe that it is our obligation as EV enthusiasts and Tesla Motors fans and customers to make our voices heard in the boardroom. If you feel the same way that I do, I would encourage you to add your name to the list of people on this thread and throw your support behind the campaign to reinstate Martin Eberhard as CEO of Tesla Motors.
Thank you.
All the best,
Chris Harvey.
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