Tesla's Top Software Executive Steps Down: Report

David Lau’s reported departure comes after a series of high-profile exits at Tesla over the past year.

• This year has been particularly tough for Tesla, marked by declining sales and increasing competition.
• The car company has seen several prominent resignations throughout the last year across different divisions.
• Currently, its software head, responsible for areas including powertrain and battery management, is said to be departing.

Another senior Tesla The leader is apparently resigning from his position, following several prominent departures within the firm over the last twelve months. David Lau, who served as the vice president of software engineering at Tesla for 13 years, will also be leaving the company. Bloomberg first reported on Friday citing sources familiar with the matter.

Lau headed groups accountable for the software involved in multiple automotive systems. These teams handled aspects ranging from powertrains and high-voltage electronics to battery management and data engineering. As per his LinkedIn page, he began his journey at Tesla in October 2012 and climbed the ranks to be appointed as the vice president of software engineering by January 2017.

His exit might add another fissure to Tesla’s leadership team during a period when the firm is battling to reclaim its traction. AsTesla’s clout wanes following their report, weakest first quarter sales in over two years. While it attributed the sales drop to the production ramp up of the refreshed Model Y, critics point to CEO Elon Musk’s political posturing and alignment with far-right politics, which is souring consumer sentiment here in the U.S. and especially in Europe.

Lau joins a growing list of top brass who’ve left in the past year. Engineering chief Drew Baglino and public policy head Rohan Patel both exited last spring around the same time, just as Tesla began sweeping layoffs as a cost-cutting measure. Days before last October’s super hyped Robotaxi reveal, Tesla’s public policy director, Jos Dings, also resigned.

Following several years of rapid expansion, Tesla's progress began to slow down last year. Initially, analysts attributed this decline to the absence of new vehicle models and the shift towards autonomous taxis and artificial intelligence. However, the circumstances have deteriorated further since then. Musk's conduct has become increasingly unpredictable—ranging from controversial salute at a rally to the decimation of key regulatory agencies and firing of thousands of American government workers—has triggered protests worldwide. Tesla owners are even ditching their vehicles in protest.

Nevertheless, the car manufacturer is set for a bustling year across various areas. Shipments of the updated model will commence shortly. Model Y began operations in the U.S., with plans to introduce the robotaxi ride-hailing service in June in Austin before expanding to additional locations throughout this year and next year. Additionally, Tesla has initiated these efforts. plans to upgrade the aging Model S sedan and Model X SUV, whose sales have been plummeting due to lack of upgrades. C Cheaper models are also inbound, according to the company.

It is alleged that Musk is stepping down From his position at the Department of Government Efficiency, the damage to the brand might already have occurred. Additionally, key personnel leaving won’t simplify things.

Are you currently working at Tesla or perhaps a previous staff member with a tale to tell? We welcome secure and anonymous conversations. Feel free to contact me directly. suvrat.kothar@insideevs.com or through the Signal application at suvratk.74

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