Musk Risks Turning Tesla Into the Next Boeing
The DOGE chief is apparently refocusing on his electric car company. But when safety is a priority, could his attention bring more harm than good?
Is this the face of a culture of safety?
Photographer: Shawn Thew/Bloomberg
The Tesla Inc. board is doubling down on Elon Musk. With its chair denying a report that the electric car company was exploring other CEO possibilities, the board is sending a clear message: We’re in the Elon business.
It’s a questionable move given one of directors’ core responsibilities: assessing risks. Right now Tesla is facing a host of them, including flagging sales, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency hangover and, crucially, his plan to bet the company’s future on robotaxis. The biggest risk, however, is caused by Musk himself. After all, the worst-case scenario for a self-driving taxi fleet is a safety issue identified after the vehicles are on the road. In addition to potentially costing lives, any significant problem could scare people away from the Tesla brand. Musk’s leadership style makes that scenario a frighteningly plausible one.