David Bridges
Matthew LaBrot, a former Tesla employee, recently gained attention after creating the website Tesla Employees Against Elon Musk. His employment was terminated two weeks ago, and LaBrot took to LinkedIn to reveal that his firing was directly linked to his involvement in establishing the website and being part of a larger group advocating for Elon Musk to resign from his position at the company. This incident sheds light on the growing discontent among employees regarding the leadership at Tesla.
Tesla has encountered a series of challenges throughout this year, including significant recalls, dwindling sales, ongoing litigation, and an erratic stock price. For the first time in over a decade, car sales experienced a decline in 2024, with a further drop of 13% recorded in the first quarter of 2025. The company’s troubles are particularly evident in Europe, where Germany faced nearly a 50% decrease in sales just last month, while France reported a similar decline of 59% during the same timeframe. These figures raise concerns about the company’s market position and long-term sustainability.
Tesla has attributed its falling sales to the recent launch of the Model Y, which is currently the company’s top-selling vehicle. During the Q1 2025 earnings call, Tesla representatives stated that there was a shortage of the new Model Y available in most markets at the start of the year, which hindered their ability to boost sales figures. This explanation has sparked debates among employees and industry analysts regarding the underlying issues affecting the company’s sales performance.
However, the group of employees who signed the letter, identifying themselves as “Tesla Employees for a New Chapter,” argue that the problems facing Tesla are not primarily related to Model Y production challenges. Instead, they assert that the core issue lies in the public perception of Elon Musk, who has garnered a polarizing reputation as the company’s CEO. In their statement, they emphasized, “Let’s be clear: we are not the problem. Our products are not the problem. Our engineering, service, and delivery teams are not the problem. The problem is demand. The problem is Elon.” This perspective highlights the internal conflict within the company regarding leadership and accountability.
Interestingly, Tesla itself acknowledged a similar sentiment on its recent earnings call, humorously admitting that “unwanted hostility towards our brand and our people had an impact [on sales] in certain markets.” This candid admission reflects the challenges the company faces in maintaining its brand image and employee morale amidst external pressures.
This viewpoint aligns with expert opinions, many of which attribute Tesla‘s declining sales figures to Musk‘s recent involvement in right-wing politics. Last year alone, Musk contributed over $288 million to support the election of Donald Trump and various other Republican candidates. Additionally, as a special advisor to the Trump administration, Musk has spent much of 2025 managing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has focused on drastically reducing government spending while making exaggerated claims about these cuts.
In early 2025, Musk’s political engagement ignited a grassroots protest movement dubbed Tesla Takedown. This movement has mobilized demonstrators at Tesla showrooms and charging stations nationwide. Although the company has since recovered some ground, its stock price experienced a staggering drop of 38% by mid-March 2025 compared to the start of the year. This volatility raises questions about investor confidence and the company’s future direction.
Under increasing pressure from investors, Musk announced during Tesla’s Q1 earnings call that he would be reducing his involvement in Washington, D.C., to dedicate more time to the company. This decision reflects a shift in focus, indicating the need for Musk to address the internal and external challenges facing Tesla more directly.
In their open letter, the group Tesla Employees for a New Chapter criticized Musk’s decision as “tone-deaf” and “insulting.” They argued, “It implies that the hardships of the past six months stem from a lack of his attention, not from his actions. It shifts the blame onto the very people who have held this company together.” Their candid remarks reveal the deep-seated frustration among employees regarding leadership accountability and the overall direction of the company.
According to LaBrot’s LinkedIn profile, he served in “Sales and Delivery Training” at Tesla and had been with the company for over five years prior to his termination. His dismissal raises questions about employee rights and the implications of speaking out against corporate leadership.
Daniel Mercer
Brandon Fletcher
