Tesla is rehiring its Supercharger team, which was laid off just two weeks ago. The decision comes as CEO Elon Musk promises to spend $500 million on expanding the Supercharger network.
The Supercharger team, consisting of around 500 members, was responsible for one of Tesla’s most significant assets – its Supercharger network. This network, with over 2,000 charging stations and more than 25,000 plugs in the US alone, has been a critical factor in making electric vehicles an acceptable alternative to traditional vehicles.
However, the dismissal of the entire team raised questions about the future of the Supercharger network, especially as it accounts for about 5 percent of Tesla’s revenues. This percentage was expected to grow as more automakers gained access to the network.
The layoffs had also put Tesla’s plan to build a more powerful charger for cars using 800 V or 900 V architectures on hold. Furthermore, several Supercharger sites that were under construction had reportedly stalled.
But now, Musk has announced that Tesla will spend more than $500 million to build more chargers. To achieve this, Tesla will need to rehire a significant number of people, starting with Max de Zegher, an executive under the previous head of Supercharging, Rebecca Tinucci.
Read more: arstechnica.com