I keep seeing this meme on FB. I suspect it’s an attempt to argue that Elon Musk hasn’t done anything significant at Tesla. I hear this all the time from people who don’t like Musk. But facts first: Courtesy of Grok, here’s a summary of what Musk does at Tesla:

Elon Musk holds the position of CEO at Tesla, where he is also referred to as the “Technoking of Tesla,” a title he adopted in 2021. His responsibilities at Tesla include:
Product Design and Engineering: Musk leads all product design, engineering, and global manufacturing of Tesla’s electric vehicles, battery products, and solar energy products. This involves overseeing the development from concept to production.
Strategic Direction: As CEO, he sets the strategic direction for the company, focusing on Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
Innovation and Technology Leadership: Musk is deeply involved in the innovation process, often directly contributing to technological advancements, especially in areas critical to Tesla like autonomy (Full Self-Driving or FSD), battery technology, and robotics (like the Optimus project).
Corporate Governance: Although he stepped down as chairman of Tesla’s board in 2018 due to an SEC settlement, he remains a significant influence in corporate governance decisions due to his role as CEO and his ownership stake.
Public Representation: Musk represents Tesla publicly, including at investor meetings, product launches, and on social media platforms like X, where he communicates with customers, fans, and critics alike, influencing public perception and company culture.
Operational Oversight: Recent reports indicate that Musk now oversees Tesla’s sales operations in several key regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, highlighting his hands-on approach in operational aspects of the business.
His role has been described as integral to Tesla’s identity and success, with some suggesting that his influence is so significant that Tesla thrives largely due to his direct involvement in innovation and management.

What happened to Tarpenning ad Eberhard. Grok’s explanation is much more nuanced than the meme: “Did musk push out Mark Tarpenning and martin Eberhard from tesla?

Grok’s Answer

The narrative around Elon Musk’s relationship with Tesla’s co-founders, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, involves several perspectives:
Foundation of Tesla: Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning founded Tesla in 2003. Musk joined the company as an investor in 2004, bringing in significant capital and becoming chairman of the board.

Musk’s Involvement: Musk’s role quickly grew beyond that of an investor. He was instrumental in shaping the vision and direction of Tesla, not just with his financial investment but also through his involvement in product design and strategic decisions.

Eberhard’s Departure: Eberhard was removed as CEO in 2007. According to various accounts:

Musk’s Perspective: Musk has stated that Eberhard was removed due to operational issues, particularly related to the production delays of the Tesla Roadster. He has described Eberhard as difficult to work with, labeling him as “the worst person I’ve ever worked with” in some interviews.

Eberhard’s Perspective: Eberhard has claimed that Musk tried to rewrite history by claiming to be a founder of Tesla. After his departure, Eberhard sued Musk for libel, slander, and breach of contract in 2009, alleging that Musk pushed him out and attempted to diminish his contributions to Tesla. The lawsuit was settled, with part of the agreement recognizing Musk and others as co-founders alongside Eberhard and Tarpenning.

Tarpenning’s Departure: Marc Tarpenning left Tesla in 2008, not under the same contentious circumstances as Eberhard. Reports suggest that Tarpenning’s departure was more amicable; he stepped down around the time when the first Roadsters were being finalized for production. He has expressed no regrets about his time at Tesla and continues to be involved in the tech and startup ecosystem.
Public and Internal Perception: There’s a split in perception. Some view Musk’s actions as aggressive takeover tactics, while others see his involvement as crucial for Tesla’s survival and growth. Musk himself has noted that his involvement was essential beyond just his financial investment, claiming that without his input, the company might not have succeeded.

Given this background, while Musk didn’t “push out” Tarpenning in the same manner as Eberhard (Tarpenning’s exit was less dramatic), Musk’s growing influence and direct involvement in key decisions did lead to significant changes in leadership at Tesla. Eberhard’s departure was indeed contentious, involving legal action, whereas Tarpenning’s was more about transitioning from his role at a pivotal time in Tesla’s development.

The situation reflects a complex interplay of ambition, vision, and business strategy, where Musk’s assertive leadership style and vision for Tesla played a critical role in these transitions.