Co -founder of Tesla, he criticizes the strategy of Elon Musk and his “pickup with the appearance of a garbage dumpster”

If Elon Musk quickly took Tesla’s reins and he even gained the right to use the title of co -founder after legal action, he is not at the origin of the creation of the brand of electric cars. Tesla was indeed co -founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, who had already created together the company of electronic e -readers Nuvomedia.

The two partners left Tesla over fifteen years ago, after Elon Musk took control of the business, which pushed Martin Eberhard to take legal action, later abandoned, against the businessman, not in particular judging having been pushed towards the exit. Since then, the former co -founders of Tesla, who have always cultivated a close friendship, have been leading a fairly discreet life. Their public appearances are rare, as well as their comments about the manufacturer they have co -founded.

But Martin Eberhard, who considers himself as retired, was interviewed by the youtuber Kim Java specializing in electric cars and renewable energies. During this conversation, between the second copy of Tesla Roadster delivered and the Model S used by Martin Eberhard, the training engineer notably addressed the brand’s current strategy.

A new misunderstood strategy

Asked about the trajectory that Tesla could have followed if Elon Musk had not been the main investor of the company, Martin Eberhard first explained that his original vision of producing the roadster as a technological showcase, then a high -end proposition that became the Model S and Model X, before offering a more accessible electric car that has become the Model 3, was respected.

However, after that, “The next car for me would probably have been placed in Model 3”explains Martin Eberhard, who says “Disappointed that Tesla has canceled its entry -level car program, because that’s what the world needs, not a pickup pickup”referring to the Cybetruck, Tesla’s first model which does not seem to know the expected demand.

Recall that Elon Musk actually abandoned the affordable tesla project that was nicknamed Model 2 and which should have been offered at $ 25,000, for the benefit of a single 100 % autonomous version that Cybercabdespite the unpopularity of this internal decision. Tesla foresees a more affordable model, but it will be based on Model Y and its price is expected at $ 35,000, the one initially promised for Model 3 launched almost ten years ago and whose entry -level version was only offered a few months.

This direction taken by Elon Musk towards autonomous driving, but also towards robots and artificial intelligence, was not at all part of Martin Eberhard’s plans. The latter admits to being “More skeptical than most people” on the issue of autonomous driving. “People tend to too easily close their eyes to the failures of these autonomous systems”he believes. “I find it quite incredible that we can put a prototype on the road and sometimes kill people because it does not work properly, and it is somehow acceptable. It is not for me.”

Despite this and his various with the businessman, Martin Eberhard, who has kept Tesla shares, recognizes the entrepreneurial qualities of Elon Musk. “He did a great job. The company is enormous, he became the richest man in the world thanks to her. So I can’t criticize him too much.”he nuances.

These questions come when Tesla must now face increased competition, especially from China, with lower prices and models with more recent development.

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