Former Tesla Employee Claims His Criticism Of Musk's Leadership Led To His Termination

Matthew LaBrot, a former program manager at Tesla, has alleged that his termination from the company was triggered by his vocal criticism of CEO Elon Musk. LaBrot, who joined Tesla in 2019 describing it as his “dream job,” revealed his side of the story in a LinkedIn post nearly two weeks after his exit.

According to LaBrot, the dismissal stemmed from a website he launched anonymously in April, titled Tesla Employees Against Elon. The site functioned as a platform for LaBrot’s manifesto, which openly criticised Musk's leadership and called for his resignation. He argued that Musk’s management style was inflicting damage on Tesla’s public image and sales performance, reported NDTV.

A Call for Change at the Top

LaBrot didn’t mince words in his critique, suggesting that Tesla's challenges were not rooted in its vehicles or staff, but in Musk himself. "Our products are not the problem. Our engineering, service, and delivery teams are not the problem. The problem is demand. The problem is Elon," he wrote.

In his post, LaBrot emphasised that the damage to Musk’s personal brand had become a liability for the company. “The damage done to Elon's personal brand is now irreversible and as the public face of Tesla, that damage has become our burden,” he stated. He warned that Tesla stood at a critical juncture, facing either continued decline under Musk’s leadership or a chance to thrive without him.

He also criticised Musk’s renewed focus on Tesla as "tone-deaf," suggesting that the billionaire’s earlier neglect of the company had already contributed to its downward trajectory. LaBrot wrote, “The sustainable energy movement that Tesla helped bring to the mainstream will continue, but if we don't act now, it will continue without us."

Sales Slump Adds to Leadership Scrutiny

LaBrot’s concerns emerged amid troubling signs for the automaker. In April, Tesla disclosed a 13 per cent decline in first-quarter vehicle sales, a slide attributed to factory updates and mounting criticism over Musk's political affiliations, including his involvement with the Donald Trump administration.

The sales drop was particularly steep in France—Tesla’s third-largest market in the European Union—where deliveries plunged by 59 per cent. Overall, first-quarter sales in Europe dropped 37 per cent, a stark contrast to the broader EV market, which grew by 28 per cent in the same period.

Financially, Tesla also took a hit, with net income falling sharply by 71 per cent during the quarter, highlighting the extent of the company’s challenges under current leadership.

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