Tesla Model 3 is scheduled to release this September and the electric automaker has received a massive jolt which may surely affect its production. According to a report in Reuters, Tesla has parted ways with an executive important to the company’s automation efforts.
The company’s executive, Klaus Grohmann, was recently appointed to spearhead a new division within the electric automaker called Tesla Advanced Automation Germany. He has now parted ways with Tesla after clashing with chief executive Elon Musk over how its automation company would continue to operate under their control. He departed last month when Musk disagreed with Grohmann on how the legacy clients for the company should be handled post the acquisition.
He departed last month when Musk disagreed with Grohmann on how the legacy clients for the company should be handled post the acquisition. The report suggests that the chief executive, who is one of the most visionary individuals alive today, wanted the German manufacturing company to focus solely on building machines for Tesla vehicles. Grohmann, on the other hand, wanted to keep their legacy clients, such as Daimler (the parent company of Mercedes-Benz) and BMW, close while also servicing Tesla.
For those unaware, Tesla had acquired Germany-based Grohmann Engineering that specializes in building advanced and automated manufacturing solutions. This was one of the most significant moments for the automaker as it has taken a step in the right direction to boost their production capabilities. Musk had then promised that he will append the German facility’s current 700-member strong workforce with another 1,000 jobs. And the same would enable Tesla achieve its ambitious goal of mass-producing 500,000 Model 3 vehicles by 2018.
During the acquisition, Musk stated that they’re adding a machinery giant that will manufacture more machines to their arsenal. He further also talked about Grohmann, who has been ousted, saying the German giant was actually his company’s first choice, when it had to resort to bringing an expert to help it build the machines that build the machine. To this, he further continues to add,
This will really be our first acquisition of significance in our whole history.
This is the second time Grohmann Engineering has made its way into the headlines. Earlier last week, we’d reported that employees for the German manufacturing facility (now owned by Tesla) were looking forward to a labor strike. It had been suggested that Tesla wasn’t operating fairly and they were being paid 30 percent below union wages, ever since it acquired Grohmann towards the end of 2016. And the electric automaker, as expected, denied the claims and there has been no rebellion until date.
We’ve contacted Tesla for more information on the departure but a company spokesperson praised Grohmann’s efforts for building an incredible company, in a statement to Reuters. The spokesperson further continued to mention,
Part of Mr. Grohmann’s decision to work with Tesla was to prepare for his retirement and leave the company in capable hands for the future. Given the change in focus to Tesla projects, we mutually decided that it was the right time for the next generation of management to lead.
Still, our biggest concern which still remains unanswered is whether this significant departure will affect the scheduled production of the affordable Model 3. The electric sedan, which is being seen as a smaller and less powerful Model S, will most likely not face delays in production. Musk is hell-bent on making this one delivery on time, while Model X and Model S were both delayed by three and one year respectively.
