Tesla, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently faced backlash following a series of layoffs that included the entire Supercharger team. This team was responsible for the development and maintenance of Tesla’s vast network of EV chargers, a key selling point that set Tesla apart from its competitors.
The layoffs have raised concerns about the future of the Supercharger network. Former employees who serviced and maintained the chargers warn that the network is likely to decline due to a lack of service technicians. They predict that customers will start seeing issues last longer than what they were used to.
Tesla’s Supercharger network consists of over 50,000 stalls worldwide. Before the layoffs, workers were reportedly working around the clock, often skipping time with family to keep up with the demand. Now, a skeleton crew is left to address any issues that may arise, a task that seems daunting given the network’s size and the increasing number of Tesla consumers.
The decision to pull away from the Superchargers has implications beyond Tesla. Other car companies like Ford, Kia, Honda, and Jaguar rely on the Superchargers to charge their own electric vehicles. However, these automakers are not entirely dependent on Tesla. Last year, a consortium of car companies announced plans to build 30,000 chargers under the brand name Ionna.
Read more at: futurism.com