Uber has poached Tesla’s former head of charging, Rebecca Tinucci, and her entire team, just months after they parted ways with Elon Musk following their dismissal.
Rebecca Tinucci is largely credited with spearheading Tesla’s extraordinary expansion of charging infrastructure over the past six years, assuming key roles within the team, including a two-year tenure as head of the charging department.
Their team built arguably the most comprehensive and advanced DC fast-charging network on the planet.
It was astonishing to witness CEO Elon Musk’s surprise visit to the entire team of 500 people at their workplace just a year ago.
According to previous reports, the reason for her termination was reportedly at the request of Elon Musk, who allegedly asked her to carry out a significant layoff strategy as part of broader cost-cutting measures at Tesla. Musk’s subsequent request for further layoffs met resistance from her, who opposed it firmly, convinced that achieving the charging goals without a full team at this stage was unrealistic and not feasible.
To avoid simply terminating her and replacing her with someone more cooperative regarding the impending layoffs, Musk opted instead to dismiss her entire team. After struggling to find suitable replacements, the corporation ultimately had no choice but to re-employ some of their former, skilled crew members.
Tinucci is set to lead the charge in electrifying Uber’s ride-hailing fleet, as outlined in a memo acquired by Bloomberg.
By 2040, Uber aims to fully electrify its global fleet through a multi-pronged approach, including innovative incentives for drivers to adopt electric vehicles and the installation of widespread charging infrastructure.
Tesla was collaborating directly with Uber in New York City to improve the city’s charging infrastructure and support the growth of its electric ride-hailing fleet.
Prior reports have highlighted several companies capitalizing on Tesla’s decision to dismiss its entire charging team by acquiring their expertise, including New York-based Revel, which has since partnered with Uber to develop charging infrastructure in New York City.
