Two ⁤key executives ⁣from Tesla, Drew ⁤Baglino and Rohan Patel, have announced their departure from the electric ‍vehicle maker and⁢ clean⁤ energy company. The announcement was made on X, a social network owned⁢ and run ⁣by Tesla’s ⁣CEO, Elon Musk, who also⁤ serves as its chief⁤ technology officer. Musk expressed his gratitude to both executives for their contributions to the company.

Workforce Reduction at Tesla

The departure of‍ Baglino and Patel comes in the​ wake‍ of Tesla’s announcement that it is laying off more ‌than ​10% of its workforce. Baglino, who has been with​ Tesla since its early years, started as a firmware and electrical ⁣engineer ⁤in 2006. He most​ recently​ held the position of ‍senior vice president for powertrain ​and energy⁢ engineering, ⁤reporting directly ⁤to Musk. Patel, on the other ⁢hand, joined Tesla in 2016 after serving⁢ as a senior advisor to former President Barack Obama on climate and ⁣energy issues, among ​other ⁣policy matters.

Tesla’s Shift in Strategy

Recently, Tesla has reportedly set aside plans to manufacture a more affordable ⁤new electric vehicle (EV) as directed by Musk.‌ The company’s strategy shift includes a greater focus on developing a “robotaxi” amidst stiff competition from BYD and other Chinese automakers offering more⁢ affordable electric cars. Both Patel and Baglino had been deeply​ involved in battery⁤ and vehicle manufacturing, related⁤ policy, and ⁣transforming‍ Tesla into a multinational EV manufacturer. However, they were less involved⁤ in autonomous vehicle technology at Tesla.

Executives⁣ Express‌ Gratitude

In‍ a post‍ on X, Baglino expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with Tesla and contribute to ⁣its mission of accelerating ⁤the⁢ transition⁢ to sustainable energy. Patel echoed similar sentiments,‍ expressing his gratitude for ​the experiences and opportunities he had at⁢ Tesla. Musk responded to both executives, thanking them for their contributions to the company.

As​ of Monday morning, Tesla had ​not yet updated the “leadership” information on its corporate webpage to reflect Baglino’s departure. Baglino and Patel were not immediately available for comment.