A longtime Tesla engineer has walked away from the company after publicly criticizing Elon Musk’s leadership, saying it has “seriously compromised” Tesla’s mission. Giorgio Balestrieri, who had been with the automaker since 2017, detailed his decision in a candid LinkedIn post that has since sparked debate among Tesla followers and former employees.
Balestrieri worked on Tesla’s autobidder system in Europe, a platform designed to let batteries trade energy on the grid like virtual power plants. He said that while the work was exciting, the company’s direction under Musk made it impossible for him to stay. His post accused leadership of undermining Tesla’s clean energy mission, spreading climate change denial, and supporting political movements that contradict sustainable goals.
The engineer, who rose through the ranks from intern to staff engineer, claimed that decision-making inside Tesla has deteriorated as Musk’s influence grew. He described a workplace where ethical concerns were dismissed and where the company’s once-clear purpose – to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy – was overshadowed by distractions and divisive politics.
This isn’t the first time criticism of Tesla’s internal culture has surfaced. Analysts have noted that the company’s rapid expansion into robotics, AI, and energy services has made it harder to stay focused on its original mission. Some employees have voiced frustration that Tesla’s messaging no longer lines up with its actions, especially as Musk’s personal views increasingly shape the company’s public image.
Balestrieri’s exit adds weight to those concerns. It’s unusual for someone with nearly a decade at Tesla to leave so publicly, and even more unusual to do so with pointed remarks aimed directly at Musk. His role in developing pricing algorithms for autobidder made him part of Tesla’s global energy strategy, not just the car business, which underscores the significance of his departure.
Tesla has not issued a formal response to his comments. Still, the episode highlights a broader question: can Tesla balance Musk’s bold vision with the stability needed to keep employees and investors aligned? The company remains a leader in EVs and battery storage, but voices like Balestrieri’s suggest cracks are forming beneath the surface.
For now, the resignation is being viewed as both a personal stand and a signal to the wider industry. If more employees feel Tesla is drifting from its mission, it could pressure the company to rethink how it communicates – and perhaps how it operates – in the years ahead.
