The electric car manufacturer Tesla posted its fourth-consecutive quarter of profit on Wednesday, the first time the company has hit that milestone in its 17-year history.
Tesla’s success comes amid a global pandemic that has generally tanked economic activity across the world, surprising many Wall Street analysts and causing CEO Elon Musk’s net worth to skyrocket along with the car company’s stock price, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-posts-fourth-consecutive-quarterly-profit-defying-pandemic-shutdown-11595450752?mod=hp_lead_pos1">The Wall Street Journal</a>. With its fourth-consecutive quarterly profit, Tesla’s stock has overcome a key hurdle and is eligible to be listed on the S&amp;P 500.
“A roadway into the S&amp;P 500 is kind of ordaining Tesla a real company and that always wasn’t the case,” Loup Ventures managing partner Gene Munster said. “That’s why it’s a historic day.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s net worth has rocketed up in the past few weeks along with the car company’s stock price, which has nearly quadrupled over the past year. On Friday, Musk’s net worth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-net-worth-rose-6-billion-in-one-day-overtakes-warren-buffett">jumped</a> over $6 billion in one day because of Tesla’s stock valuation, and his net worth has risen over $40 billion in the past year. Amazon owner and CEO Jeff Bezos is the only person in the world who has increased his net worth over the past year more than Musk, according to the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Bloomberg Billionaire Index</a>.
In his Q2 earnings call with investors on Tuesday, Musk announced that Tesla would be building its second U.S. assembly plant near Austin, Texas. The plant, once up and running, will produce two types of trucks, a pickup and a semi. The plant will also manufacture Model 3s and Model Ys.
Musk plans to go on a hiring binge to staff the plant, a rare occurrence as hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to file for unemployment every week, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-prepares-for-hiring-boom-as-elon-musk-targets-manufacturing-expansion-11595538581">WSJ</a>. The new plant is expected to increase Tesla’s manufacturing capacity by about another 2 million vehicles per year.
Musk’s decision to build a plant in Texas comes after he sued local health officials in California after the government shut down Tesla’s factory for several weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, Musk threatened to leave the state entirely and move elsewhere.
Officials in California’s Alameda County eventually <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-wins-california-will-allow-tesla-plant-to-reopen-with-safety-precautions">acquiesced</a> to Musk’s demand and allowed him to reopen the factory as long as proper safety precautions were taken to limit the spread of the virus within the facility.
Tesla is also building a factory outside of Berlin to increase production alongside its factory in Fremont, California, and a factory in China. Some experts have questioned whether Tesla’s stock price is overvalued and destined to crash because of a lack of demand for Tesla’s vehicles. Musk has denied such claims and asserted that demand is not a problem for the car company.
Tesla’s most pressing issue, according to Musk, is battery supply. To solve the problem, Tesla is <a href="https://electrek.co/2020/06/11/tesla-secures-approval-model-3-cheaper-lithium-iron-phosphate-batteries/">developing</a> a new line of Model 3s that will use a different type of battery with less range.
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Elon Musk

‘Historic’: Tesla Posts Fourth-Consecutive Quarterly Profit; Now Eligible For S&P 500

Tesla

Elon Musk and Tesla scored a win late Tuesday when Alameda County officials finally, begrudgingly, allowed the company to reopen its California assembly plant as long as it ascribes to certain specific safety standards.
The decision, of course, comes a bit too late for Alameda County officials; Tesla opened its Fremont, California, plant on Tuesday and is looking to ramp up production of both its electric vehicles and electric batteries despite state-level coronavirus lockdowns.
California is allowing some industrial activities to resume, but counties, like Alameda, are given leeway in restricting local businesses further if they feel it would prevent or slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Alameda, of course, took advantage of that power, shutting down the county and sidelining Musk&#8217;s Fremont assembly plant.
This week, Musk announced he would reopen regardless of Alameda County restrictions and challenged county officials to shut down his operation, noting that he would be on the line with Tesla workers when the plant reopened and was willing to be arrested for putting his employees back to work.
Musk also threatened to relocate his entire operation from California to either Nevada or Texas &#8212; a threat that caught the attention of no less than California governor Gavin Newsom (and of a handful of Texas and Nevada officials who announced that they&#8217;d welcome Musk to their states with open arms).
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/13/business/tesla-plant-reopening/index.html">CNN reports</a> that Alameda County not only did not arrest Musk, they gave in to his demands.
<div class="el__leafmedia el__leafmedia--sourced-paragraph">
&#8220;Tesla&#8217;s standoff with California&#8217;s Alameda County officials has come to an end after the county agreed to let Tesla&#8217;s factory in Fremont, California, reopen,&#8221; the outlet said Wednesday. &#8220;Alameda County gave Tesla its blessing on the condition that it maintain &#8216;minimum business operations&#8217; and implement additional safety recommendations, according to a company statement that was released on Tuesday.&#8221;
They also set a timeline for Tesla to begin ramping up operations starting next week. The county&#8217;s restrictions, of course, are meaningless: the Tesla plant has already reopened, and is operating at more than &#8220;minimum business.&#8221;
&#8220;We will be working with the Fremont Police Department to verify Tesla is adhering to physical distancing and that agreed upon health and safety measures are in place for the safety of their workers as they prepare for full production,&#8221; the county said in a statement.
Alameda County did not say whether Musk would face repercussions for opening the plant early.
<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/coronavirus-tesla-plant-reopening-elon-musk-nevada">Fox Business reports</a> that the victory has only empowered Musk to begin ramping up operations in other states, including Nevada, where Tesla batteries are manufactured.
&#8220;Tesla North American HR boss Valerie Workman shared plans for employees to return to work in Nevada in a Monday email,&#8221; according to Fox. &#8220;Those employees would be contacted within 24 hours and given a return-to-work date, Workman said.&#8221;
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.  
</div>

elon musk

Elon Wins: California Will Allow Tesla Plant To Reopen With ‘Safety Precautions’

California

Coronavirus

lockdown

President Donald Trump has weighed in on Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s feud with Alameda County, which has blocked the electric car company from officially re-opening its manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. 
“California should let Tesla &amp; [Elon Musk] open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast &amp; Safely,” tweeted Trump on Tuesday morning. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
California should let Tesla &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast &amp; Safely!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1260203080076931072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
While Tesla has been allowed to resume business under the California reopening guidelines, Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has encouraged public health officials to adopt stricter measures as deemed appropriate. Alameda County, where Tesla’s Fremont plant is located, is one such California county that has opted to do so. 
After Tesla <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/8/21251762/elon-musk-reopening-freemont-factory-coronavirus">told employees</a> last Thursday that the company would begin to resume operations the following day, Dr. Erica Pan, the interim public health officer for Alameda County, claimed that Tesla was prohibited from re-opening. 
“We have not given the green light. We have been working with them looking at some of their safety plans. But no, we have not said that it is appropriate to move forward,” Dr. Pan said during a virtual town hall on Friday, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tesla-not-given-the-green-light-to-reopen-says-alameda-county-rep.html">NBC News</a>. 
Musk, who has recently made “freedom” his rallying cry, issued a defiant response the following day. In one fell swoop, the Tesla CEO insulted the interim health officer’s intelligence, announced that Tesla would move it’s headquarters and unspecified programs out of state, and filed a lawsuit against Alameda County. 
And on Monday, Musk resumed operations in Tesla’s manufacturing plant anyway, proclaiming that he would work the hop onto the manufacturing line himself. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259945593805221891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-reopens-tesla-plant-against-california-countys-orders">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported, Newsom claimed during a Monday press conference that he wasn’t aware Tesla had re-opened, but encouraged the company to come to an agreement with Alameda County. 
“I have great expectations that we can work through, at the county level, the issue with this particular county and this company, in the next number of days,” said Newsom. 
The governor also seemed to respond to Tesla’s threats about leaving the state, having emphasized that California has “substantively supported” the company for years. 
“I’m confident we’ll get through this regardless of what some people are saying on social media and in the press currently,” he said. 
In response to the feud, Richard Cortez, the judge for Hidalgo County, Texas, issued a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-business-texas-county-is-courting-elon-musk-after-he-said-tesla-was-leaving-california">statement</a> through the county encouraging Musk to consider moving operations to his jurisdiction. Musk told the county that the &#8220;note is much appreciated.&#8221;
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President Trump Holds Press Briefing On Virus Testing

Trump Sends Message To California Over Elon Musk’s Reopening Feud

Donald Trump

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reopened the company’s manufacturing plant in Alameda County, California, elevating his public feud with Interim Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan, who has prohibited the company from resuming business via a county-wide order that is more strict than the governor&#8217;s public health order.  
In a tweet on Monday afternoon, Musk said Tesla would begin to ramp up production in the county, which includes the Fremont facility where over 10,000 people have jobs. 
“Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” said Musk. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259945593805221891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/05/11/tesla-reopens-california-factory-in-defiance-of-bay-area-health-order-1283466">Politico</a>, the parking lot at the Fremont plant was “packed” as of Monday, and some contractors with Tesla told the news agency they had returned to work. 
In an email obtained by <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/8/21251762/elon-musk-reopening-freemont-factory-coronavirus">The Verge</a>, Musk told employees late last Thursday that the plant would reopen on the following day with a limited workforce, a move that aligned with the governor’s plan to allow manufacturing across the state to resume. 
But Alameda County blocked the reopening plan on Friday, with the interim public health officer noting in a town hall that Tesla did not have the “green light” to resume business under the county’s order, reports <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tesla-not-given-the-green-light-to-reopen-says-alameda-county-rep.html">CBS News</a>. 
Frustrated, Musk accused the public health officer on Saturday of ignoring “common sense” and announced that he would move Tesla’s headquarters and other unnamed programs out of the state. 
During a press conference on Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) responded to Tesla’s feud with Alameda County, but said he was unaware of reports that Tesla decided to reopen earlier in the day. 
“I have great expectations that we can work through, at the county level, the issue with this particular county and this company, in the next number of days,” said Newsom. “Look, I have more confidence moving forward in our ability to support a company that this state has substantively supported for now many, many years.”
“I’m confident we’ll get through this regardless of what some people are saying on social media and in the press currently,” said Newsom. 
As <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-messing-around-tesla-ceo-files-lawsuit-against-county-local-mayor-issues-statement">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported, Tesla filed a lawsuit on Saturday, arguing that Alameda County empowered itself to close businesses, under the threat of fines or jail time, that supply critical infrastructure even after deeming them as essential.
The lawsuit also argues that the closures have not been applied consistently within neighboring counties with “substantially similar” coronavirus death rates and infections. 
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Aerial Views Of Silicon Valley Housing And Tech Campuses

Elon Musk Reopens Tesla Plant Against California County’s Orders

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against Alameda County, California, after the local public health department blocked him from resuming business at the company’s manufacturing plant in Fremont this past Friday.
The lawsuit argues that Alameda County, where Tesla’s headquarters are based, empowered itself to close businesses, under the threat of fines or jail time, that supply critical infrastructure even after deeming them as essential, according to a <a href="https://wholemars.com/alameda-lawsuit.pdf">copy</a> posted by <a href="https://twitter.com/thirdrowtesla/status/1259249196428718081">Third Row Tesla</a> on Twitter.
The lawsuit also notes that Tesla’s facilities in neighboring San Joaquin County have not been subject to the same restrictions, despite both counties having “substantially similar” coronavirus death rates and infection rates.
After the Twitter account posted a copy of the lawsuit, Musk replied: “I’m not messing around. Absurd &amp; medically irrational behavior in violation of constitutional civil liberties, moreover by *unelected* county officials with no accountability, needs to stop.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I’m not messing around. Absurd &amp; medically irrational behavior in violation of constitutional civil liberties, moreover by *unelected* county officials with no accountability, needs to stop.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259261146009178112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
Lily Mei, the mayor of Fremont, California, came out in support of Tesla resuming business so long as they were committed to finding a “thoughtful, balanced approach.”
The mayor’s statement comes after Musk blasted Alameda County and declared that his company would move its headquarters and unspecified programs out of California. The Tesla CEO also said he would consider moving the entire manufacturing process out of Fremont depending on “how Tesla is treated in the future.”
Dr. Erica Pan, the interim public health office for Alameda County, said during an online town hall on Friday that Tesla did not have “the green light” to resume operations, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tesla-not-given-the-green-light-to-reopen-says-alameda-county-rep.html">CNBC</a>.
Early Saturday morning, when Musk tweeted his plans to move the company, the Tesla CEO referred to an “ignorant” unnamed “Interim Health Officer” who was acting contrary to “plain common sense.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately. The unelected &amp; ignorant “Interim Health Officer” of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms &amp; just plain common sense!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259159878427267072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259162367285317633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
In a statement after Musk’s tweets, Neetu Balrum, a public information manager for Alameda County, told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-files-lawsuit-against-california-county-over-plant-shutdown-n1203836">NBC News</a> that they’ve been working with Tesla on a “good faith effort” to reopen the factory.
&#8220;Tesla has been responsive to our guidance and recommendations, and we look forward to coming to an agreement on an appropriate safety plan very soon,&#8221; said Balrum.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Tour of Tesla Factor in Fremont, California

‘Not Messing Around’: Tesla CEO Files Lawsuit Against County, Local Mayor Issues Statement

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has recently drawn national attention for his strong <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tesla-stock-tumbles-after-elon-musks-bizarre-rant-price-too-high-people-need-freedom">rebukes</a> of government authority amidst the pandemic, revealed on Saturday morning that the company’s headquarters in Fremont, California, would immediately begin moving to either Texas or Nevada.
The CEO’s announcement, which took the form of a tweet response to someone who encouraged Tesla to file a lawsuit against Alameda County, called the local government barring the company from re-opening with reduced capacity on Friday “the final straw.”
Musk responded to the individual by saying that his company would indeed file a lawsuit against the county, and that the decision on whether to completely remove manufacturing from the area — instead of just the headquarters and unnamed Tesla programs — would be dependent on how well the company is treated going forward.
“Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately. The unelected &amp; ignorant ‘Interim Health Officer’ of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional Freedom &amp; just plain common sense,” said Musk.
“Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen[t] on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA,” said the CEO.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately. The unelected &amp; ignorant “Interim Health Officer” of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms &amp; just plain common sense!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259159878427267072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259162367285317633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/business/economy/tesla-coronavirus-factory-alameda.html">The New York Times</a>, Alameda County announced early last week that it would enact stricter public health measures, alongside six other counties in the Bay Area, than the coronavirus guidelines that Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has been rolling out.
The news agency reports that Musk told employees on Thursday that returning to work was voluntary, and that he would be “on the line personally helping wherever I can.” Anyone who did not wish to return to work was free to take paid or unpaid leave, whichever was available to them.
Dr. Erica Pan, the Alameda County interim health officer, said during a town hall on Friday that Tesla did not have the “green light” to resume operations, according <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/08/tesla-not-given-the-green-light-to-reopen-says-alameda-county-rep.html">CNBC News</a>.
“We have not given the green light. We have been working with them looking at some of their safety plans. But no, we have not said that it is appropriate to move forward,” she said.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

‘The Final Straw’: Elon Musk Says He’ll Move Tesla Headquarters Out Of California, File Lawsuit Over Restrictions

In a string of truly bizarre tweets early Friday morning, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unleashed his eclectic musings to his over 33 million followers, including one comment that prompted the value of his company’s shares to drop almost 9%.
The comments, which were posted Friday morning over the course of about an hour, began with the Tesla CEO remarking that he would be “selling almost all physical possessions,&#8221; including his house.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am selling almost all physical possessions. Will own no house.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256239554148724737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
Only a minute later, Musk opined on the price of Tesla’s stock shares, observing that, in his opinion, the “stock price is too high.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Tesla stock price is too high imo
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256239815256797184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
Several minutes later, Musk followed up with a call to &#8220;give people back their FREEDOM,&#8221; a comment similar to anti stay-at-home remarks he made during a conference call on Wednesday.
“To say that they cannot leave their house and they will be arrested if they do, this is fascist. This is not democratic, this is not freedom. Give people back their goddamn freedom,&#8221; said Musk, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-results/teslas-elon-musk-calls-coronavirus-lockdowns-fascist-as-profit-streak-continues-idUSKBN22B35G">Reuters</a>.
But after his Friday morning freedom comment, Musk decided to lean fully into the patriotism angle by tweeting his 33.4 million followers excerpts from the Star Spangled Banner, while phrasing the last line as a question.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
And the rocket&#8217;s red glare, 
the bombs bursting in air
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256243674268098561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256244431755173890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
O&#8217;er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256244646616788992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
In the hour after Musk began his Twitter rant, shares in the company dropped in value by more than 9%, down to about $686 per share, after closing the previous day at about $781 per share. After <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-stock-falls-after-ceo-tweets-stock-is-too-high-11588348672">The Wall Street Journal</a> asked him whether he was joking, or whether someone approved his tweet, Musk simply said “No.”
In 2018, Musk got into trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission for tweeting that he would consider “taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured,” reports <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/1/21244747/elon-musk-tesla-tweets-shares-sec-settlement-stock">The Verge</a>. In response, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Musk, and eventually hashed out an agreement that required him to get his tweets about Tesla’s finances pre-approved by an in-house lawyer.
“If it was not vetted, he’s at risk of being hauled into court again by the SEC,” Steve Diamond, a law professor at Santa Clara University, told the news agency. “The process was meant to catch these kinds of tweets before they went out. If he did it spontaneously, I think he’s gonna have an issue.”
With respect to his comments on Friday, Musk returned to his remarks a few times to clarify that he didn’t need cash, was doing it for “freedom,” and that he still planned on keeping Gene Wilder’s house – which <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/elon-musk-gene-wilder-house_n_4215105">he bought</a> in 2013 for nearly $7 million.
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Elon Musk attends SATELLITE 2020 conference

Tesla Stock Tumbles After Elon Musk’s Bizarre Rant: Price ‘Too High,’ People Need ‘FREEDOM’

Stock Market

Tesla is furloughing thousands of its employees and mandating pay cuts for most other employees.
The electric car manufacturer <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/7/21213159/tesla-salary-cuts-furloughs-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic">announced</a> the cutbacks on Tuesday. The car company is furloughing all hourly employees who cannot work from home and cutting the pay of salaried employees. All salaried employees will receive at least a 10% cut, directors and above a 20% cut, and vice presidents and other executives a 30% cut, according to The Verge.
Tesla HR official Valerie Workman, who wrote the email, said the furloughs would remain in place until factories in California are allowed to open back up on May 4. Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a stay-at-home order across the state until at least May 3, and may extend it beyond. Cuts to pay will remain in place through the second quarter.
It is unclear how many employees will be affected. Tesla employs about 50,000 people globally. Furloughed employees will keep their healthcare benefits through the company.
Tesla has already suspended a large portion of its manufacturing capacity in factories in California, Nevada, and New York. Until the Tuesday email, the company had been paying hourly workers, though most had been sent home because of the coronavirus. The plants have kept on skeleton crews to perform essential tasks and maintain security.
Workman said that furloughed employees would receive instructions on how to apply to receive unemployment benefits until factories are opened back up.
Below is the full text of the email sent to Tesla employees, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/08/tesla-will-slash-employee-pay-furlough-hourly-workers.html">via CNBC</a>:
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your continued commitment to Tesla and our mission during this unprecedented time. We know that the uncertainty has not been easy, and we are doing everything we can to keep you safe and informed while also navigating the changes around the world.
While we are continuing to keep only minimum critical operations running, we expect to resume normal production at our U.S. facilities on May 4, barring any significant changes. Until that time, it is important we take action to ensure we remain on track to achieve our long-term plans.
Starting Monday, April 13, we are implementing the below actions as part of a broader effort to manage costs. This is a shared sacrifice across the company that will allow us to progress during these challenging times.
Pay will be temporarily reduced for salaried employees.
<ul>
<li>For U.S. employees, these reductions are 30% for Vice Presidents and above, 20% for Directors and above, and 10% for everyone else.</li>
<li>For non-U.S. employees, there will also be comparable reductions, of which the specifics will be communicated by the local leadership team in accordance with local laws and works-councils.</li>
<li>These reductions are expected to be in place until the end of Q2</li>
</ul>
Employees who cannot work at home and have not been assigned to critical work onsite will be furloughed.
<ul>
<li>Under furlough, you remain an employee of Tesla (without pay) and retain your healthcare benefits. You will not report to work until the furlough ends and you are directed to return by management, which we expect to be May 4.</li>
<li>A furlough notice will be emailed to you in the coming days with additional instructions on how to apply for unemployment benefits through your state agency.</li>
<li>For the vast majority of furloughed employees, unemployment benefits will be roughly equivalent to normal take home pay.</li>
<li>Certain employees will be assigned to critical functions and they will continue to report onsite. Those employees will be communicated to directly by their manager or HR partner.</li>
</ul>
For the merit review cycle:
<ul>
<li>Salary and hourly rate adjustments will be put on hold.</li>
<li>Equity grants will be on hold as well.</li>
</ul>
If you would like to take a voluntary leave of absence, as some have reached out to request, please discuss with your manager and HR partner.
We continue to monitor the situation closely, and our top priority is to ensure the safety of our employees. As usual, for those who are onsite, if you are sick or are uncomfortable coming to work, please contact your manager and stay at home.
We respect your decision and you will not be penalized. For HR-related questions, contact your HR partner or email [address redacted]
Thank you all so very much for everything you do to ensure the success of our company.
Valerie Capers Workman | North America HR+
AU/NZ/JP/KR 
Registered In-House Counsel
[contact information redacted]

Tesla Institutes Mass Furloughs, Pay Cuts Over Coronavirus

Gavin Newsom

Teslas don’t make any sound when they blast from zero to 60 in less than seconds. That&#8217;s because they&#8217;re electric. But Tesla CEO Elon Musk is changing all that.
&#8220;Customized horn &amp; movement sounds (coconuts being one, of course) coming to Teslas soon,&#8221; Musk wrote Sunday on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Customized horn &amp; movement sounds (coconuts being one, of course) coming to Teslas soon
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1180877114226008064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
The coconut sound appears to reference Monty Python and the Holy Grail, reportedly one of Musk&#8217;s favorite movies. In the film, King Arthur and other characters wander the British hills with a squire behind banging coconuts to mimic the sound of a horse galloping.
Then Musk added another tweet, suggesting that Tesla owners will be able to make their cars sound like they are passing gas or bleating like a goat.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
💨 &amp; 🐐 sounds too (also, of course)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1180878496224038914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
Electric cars have been adding sounds because pedestrians can&#8217;t hear them approaching. There are new federal regulations coming next September that will mandate electric cars emit an external sound at speeds less than 20 mph to warn pedestrians. Tesla recently added the external sound feature to its Model 3, making it emit a “pink” noise in drive and a humming noise in reverse that makes it sound like a UFO in a 1950s sci-fi movie.
And Musk says he&#8217;s just getting started.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg <a href="https://t.co/cgRKiDsdbK">https://t.co/cgRKiDsdbK</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1181083687384838145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
Teslas already have a &#8220;whoopee cushion&#8221; feature that can make fart sounds when the driver uses the turn signal or presses a button. Musk also inserted another Easter Egg into the software, one that says “more cowbell,&#8221; a line from a a classic Saturday Night Live sketch.
&#8220;In the spirit of fun and good-natured toilet humor, Tesla allows drivers to select which type of fart could be activated on the vehicle,&#8221; <a href="https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-customized-horn-sounds-elon-musk/">Teslarati.com</a> reported in December 2018. &#8220;Among the choices are the &#8216;Not a Fart,&#8217; a reference to Musk’s Not-a-Flamethrower, the &#8216;Short Shorts Ripper,&#8217; an evident gesture to TSLA short-sellers who consistently attempt to discredit the company, the &#8216;Falcon Heavy,&#8217; a nod to SpaceX’s largest operational rocket to date, the &#8216;Ludicrous Fart,&#8217; a reference to the Model S P100D and Model X P100D’s Ludicrous Mode, the &#8216;Boring Fart,&#8217; a direct nod to The Boring Company, and &#8216;I’m so random,&#8217; which likely involves a randomized activation of the vehicle’s different fart sounds.&#8221;
<iframe title="Tesla Model 3 - Emissions Testing Mode (Fart)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k2hzNET5Ohw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Teslas also have a “Romance Mode” that &#8220;transforms the entire center display of a vehicle into a fireplace, complete with the sounds of a crackling fire. In a follow-up post, John McAfee noted that the Easter Egg also blasts heat from the front vents, while playing some romantic music (the Model S owner noted that his car played Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing when he activated Romance Mode),&#8221; Teslarati reported.
<iframe title="Tesla Model 3 - Romance Mode" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Suauu-qk8zo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in its new regulation that drivers should be able to “select the sound they prefer from the set of sounds installed in the vehicle.”
&#8220;Some automakers have already selected their sounds,&#8221; <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/16/20869035/electric-car-ev-fake-noise-nhtsa">The Verge</a> reported. &#8220;Mercedes-Benz has an artificial humming sound picked out for its electric EQC lineup, while VW has said its compact ID.3 electric vehicles will come installed with a fake sound for low speeds when they hit showroom floors in 2020. Mercedes-AMG, the automaker’s performance brand, is working with rock band Linkin Park to find a more bass-slapping sound for its vehicles.&#8221;

Musk

Elon Musk Announces New Customized Horn, Movement Sounds — And They’re Bizarre

Elon Musk contributed $33,900 to the House Republicans&#8217; &#8220;Protect the House&#8221; political action committee, according to a new report in <a href="https://www.salon.com/amp/elon-musk-revealed-as-one-of-the-largest-donors-for-a-house-republican-pac?__twitter_impression=true">Salon</a>.
&#8220;That Musk believes this yet insists on helping the Republican Party win elections does not compute with reality. Some of the most influential climate-change deniers are members of the GOP; not to mention that the Trump administration&#8217;s policies have curbed Obama-era efforts to fight global warming,&#8221; Salon wrote.
Democrats are furious because Musk claims to be a supporter of action to address climate change. Musk runs Tesla, an electric-car company, and stepped down from a council set up by President Trump because he objected to Trump&#8217;s decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord.
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.
&#8212; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/870369915894546432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>
Although Musk&#8217;s donations were small compared to others &#8212; some contributed more than half a million dollars &#8212; the billionaire has drawn the ire of Democrats. Well, at least people like unfunny comedian Chelsea Handler.
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Nice to know the person responsible for making electric cars is able to divorce himself from climate change by donating to the very people who deny its existence. I traded my Tesla in last week after my friend&#8217;s Tesla caught on fire, so I saved a trip <a href="https://t.co/rDqiERd8qt">https://t.co/rDqiERd8qt</a>
&#8212; Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseahandler/status/1018242568251822080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
Others said they would no longer support Tesla.
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Just sold my <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> stock.
&#8212; Zach Hunter (@zachjhunter) <a href="https://twitter.com/zachjhunter/status/1018206377595035648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
Musk, for his part, denied it all.
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Reports that I am a top donor to GOP are categorically false. I am not a top donor to any political party.
&#8212; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018330925384458240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
In response to one post on Twitter:
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
If <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> is truly a conservative, (even though there was almost an even split in donations to Dems/Reps) then I say we should have more progressive people like him representing Republicans. Moreso, his affiliation is none of my business.
&#8212; Jack Pattillo (@jack_p) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack_p/status/1018259097827897346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
Musk said, &#8220;Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent &amp; politically moderate. Doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me &amp; I don&#8217;t understand why they are not important to everyone.&#8221;
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Thanks Jack. To be clear, I am not a conservative. Am registered independent &amp; politically moderate. Doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m moderate about all issues. Humanitarian issues are extremely important to me &amp; I don&#8217;t understand why they are not important to everyone.
&#8212; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1018265614295523328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>

Some Democrats Furious That Elon Musk Donated Cash To Republicans

Republican Party

Actress Mary McCormack says her husband&#8217;s Tesla car suddenly caught fire while he was sitting in traffic in Southern California.
The former &#8220;West Wing&#8221; actress says the fire happened &#8220;out of the blue&#8221; and she posted a short video on Twitter.
&#8220;This is what happened to my husband and his car today. No accident, out of the blue, in traffic on Santa Monica Blvd. Thank you to the kind couple who flagged him down and told him to pull over. And thank god my three little girls weren&#8217;t in the car with him,&#8221; she wrote.
The video shows flames shooting out from under the car by the driver&#8217;s side door.
<div class="embed tweet">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> This is what happened to my husband and his car today. No accident,out of the blue, in traffic on Santa Monica Blvd. Thank you to the kind couple who flagged him down and told him to pull over. And thank god my three little girls weren&#8217;t in the car with him <a href="https://t.co/O4tPs5ftVo">pic.twitter.com/O4tPs5ftVo</a>
&#8212; Mary McCormack (@marycmccormack) <a href="https://twitter.com/marycmccormack/status/1007831286176571394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
Deputies called in firefighters, who quickly put out the flames. No one was injured.
Tesla called the incident &#8220;an extraordinarily unusual occurrence&#8221; and said it is investigating. A Tesla spokesman told People magazine, &#8220;We offer our support to local authorities and are glad our customer is safe. This is an extraordinarily unusual occurrence, and we are investigating the incident to find out what happened.&#8221;
&#8220;McCormack also responded to Twitter followers with their questions about the incident, revealing that it wasn&#8217;t a self-driving car and her husband was &#8216;barely moving in traffic&#8217; when the incident occurred,&#8221; <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/west-wing-actress-mary-mccormack-175942731.html">Yahoo!</a> reported.
&#8220;When asked, &#8216;Do they know what happened?&#8217; the actress replied, &#8216;No word from them.&#8217;&#8221;

Actress Mary McCormack Says Husband’s Tesla Caught Fire ‘Out Of The Blue’

On May 2nd, Tesla released its <a href="http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-4CW8X0/6239658125x0x979026/44C49236-1FC2-4FD9-80B1-495ED74E4194/TSLA_Update_Letter_2018-1Q.pdf">earnings report</a> for the first quarter of 2018. It beat street estimates, but still reported a loss of $3.04 per share. As conservatives, we can point to the company&#8217;s losses as a sign that Tesla can&#8217;t survive in the free market. Some might argue that electric cars can&#8217;t compete with the internal combustion engine, and that they&#8217;ve only had limited success as a result of government subsidies. That may all be true. Nonetheless, as conservatives, we should all be rooting for Tesla.
On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh often used to play a parody song called &#8220;<a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&amp;v=tZzKUt4OtE8">In a Yugo</a>.&#8221; The song mocks &#8220;a liberal guy and a liberal gal&#8221; who are so dedicated to saving the environment that they buy a small fuel-efficient car from a used car lot. Predictably, the couple ends up in a collision with a truck, and their sad little car gets flattened.
While ironic, if not slightly morbid, the song represents a point of view that conservatives feel isn&#8217;t being addressed by advocates of climate change regulation. Does the government have the right to put our safety at risk? Do we need to drive cars that are cramped and have no horse power? Does the government have the right to establish policies that will create economic instability? If climate change modeling is inherently speculative, and inaccuracies should be expected, should we really take steps that assume those models are infallible?
Unfortunately, the counter-argument that&#8217;s made by many&#8212;that people who are against regulation just don&#8217;t care about our children&#8217;s future&#8212;exacerbates the polarization. As with many issues, if people are characterized as not caring about children, they&#8217;ll likely become more entrenched in their position.
Over the past ten years, Tesla has objectively made &#8220;In a Yugo&#8221; irrelevant. It&#8217;s created cars that are safe&#8212;perhaps the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/13/15791740/tesla-model-x-crash-test-nhtsa-5-star-rating">safest</a> on the road. It&#8217;s created cars that are both comfortable and <a href="https://www.zeroto60times.com/vehicle-make/tesla-0-60-mph-times/">ridiculously fast</a>. Teslas are not Yugos. Not remotely.
In his <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/secret-tesla-motors-master-plan-just-between-you-and-me">mission statement</a> for the company, Elon Musk stated that Tesla&#8217;s goal was to make &#8220;an electric car without compromises&#8221; in order to &#8220;help expedite the move&#8230; towards a solar electric economy.&#8221; The phrase &#8220;without compromises&#8221; should inspire conservatives to get up and cheer. If that isn&#8217;t enough, try sitting in a Tesla Model S P100D while going from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds!
None of this is to claim that Tesla and Elon Musk are free of criticism. Recently, long-time Tesla fans have been justifiably <a href="https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threadloom/search">disappointed</a> in the rollout of the new Model 3 sedan. As a reservation holder myself, I was pretty shocked when I got an email saying there would be a &#8220;slight delay&#8221; in my delivery date, and found out that it would be almost another year before I could hope to see my base level Model 3. The company&#8217;s stated goal&#8212;to make an &#8220;affordable&#8221; mass market electric car&#8212;has yet to be achieved. One couldn&#8217;t be faulted for being skeptical of whether that goal will ever be achieved.
As advocates for limited government, we also have the right to question the role of government in providing subsidies for electric vehicles. If Tesla can&#8217;t succeed in producing cars that will compete in the free market, particularly without subsidies, conservatives would be right to raise objections. In fact, Elon Musk has <a href="https://jalopnik.com/elon-musk-says-model-3-will-cost-35-000-before-incent-1679351127">stated</a> that his intention is for Tesla to sell cars at a price point that&#8217;s affordable to the mass market before any government subsidies.
All that being said, there&#8217;s a compelling moral argument for us to hope that Tesla is wildly successful. If Tesla can prove that electric cars are just as good as, if not better than, gasoline powered cars, then a large portion of the climate change debate becomes moot.
After writing his first <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/opinion/climate-of-complete-certainty.html">opinion column</a> for The New York Times, Bret Stephens faced intense criticism for presenting what most conservatives would feel was an open-minded and innocuous critique of advocates for climate change regulations. While trying to find a middle ground, Stephens was branded as a radical. At the same time, many on the right have <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tesla-ceo-becomes-target-after-trump-election">attacked</a> Elon Musk as being a card-carrying leftist, despite <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/12943/liberal-fave-elon-musk-offers-reasonable-take-joseph-curl">examples</a> of him similarly trying to find a middle ground. In the climate change debate, common ground has been hard to find. If a solution became available through the free market, that would be optimal.
Conservatives understand that lack of certainty alone doesn&#8217;t justify inaction. If there&#8217;s a possibility that the climate is being affected by human activity, and there&#8217;s a very compelling solution that could help solve the problem, we should all be open to exploring the solution. When that solution includes innovation, potential economic growth, and good old fashioned American ingenuity, we should be inspired to give it our moral support.

SAMUELS: The Moral Case For Tesla

California&#8217;s Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit Tesla factories in the Golden State with a workplace safety investigation the same day that CEO Elon Musk released a memo stating that he planned to make his assembly line operational 24 hours a day. 
USAToday <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/04/18/californias-workplace-safety-agency-opens-probe-tesla-plant-after-injury-report/529799002/">reports</a> that the probe is investigating claims of underreported injuries and illness on the job. 
Cal/OSHA spokesman Erika Monterroza released a statement saying that it &#8220;takes seriously reports of workplace hazards and allegations of employers&#8217; underreporting recordable work-related injuries and illnesses.&#8221;
They added that they were examining the Tesla workplace logs &#8220;to ensure that serious injuries are reported directly to Cal/OSHA within eight hours as required by law.&#8221;
The investigation was kicked off by an article appearing in the media outlet <a href="https://www.revealnews.org/article/tesla-says-its-factory-is-safer-but-it-left-injuries-off-the-books/">Reveal</a>, which claims that Tesla &#8220;failed to report some of its serious injuries on legally mandated reports, making the company&#8217;s injury numbers look better than they actually are.&#8221;
Tesla fired back in a statement on their website, which says in <a href="https://www.tesla.com/blog/not-so-revealing-story">part</a>, &#8220;We welcome constructive criticism, but those who care about journalistic integrity should strive for the truth above all. Unfortunately, the writers at Reveal have published an article that paints a completely false picture of Tesla and what it is actually like to work here. In our view, what they portray as investigative journalism is in fact an ideologically motivated attack by an extremist organization working directly with union supporters to create a calculated disinformation campaign against Tesla.&#8221;
This comes on the heels of a released memo by Musk <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2018/04/17/teslas-elon-musk-vows-24-7-model-3-production-lots-new-jobs/526786002/">stating</a>, &#8220;As part of the drive toward 6k, all Model 3 production in Fremont will move to 24/7 operations.&#8221;

California Slaps Tesla Factory With Safety Probe

Technology

USA Today

Joshua Brown, a 40-year-old former member of the Navy SEALs for 11 years and founder of Nexu Innovations Inc., died in an accident on May 7 in Williston, Florida, when his Tesla Model S sedan crashed into a tractor trailer.
The Canton, Ohio, native, who worked on wireless Internet networks and camera systems, was killed when the cameras used by the engaged autopilot feature on his car failed to recognize a white tractor trailer against the brightly lit sky as it made a left in front of him. The autopilot failed to apply the car&#8217;s brakes as it plowed into the trailer, slipping the car underneath it, and sheering the roof completely off.
According to <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/self-driving-car-driver-died-205642937.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YahooNews</a>,
<blockquote>
Frank Baressi, 62, the driver of the truck and owner of Okemah Express LLC, said the Tesla driver was &#8220;playing Harry Potter on the TV screen&#8221; at the time of the crash and driving so quickly that &#8220;he went so fast through my trailer I didn&#8217;t see him.&#8221;
&#8220;It was still playing when he died and snapped a telephone pole a quarter mile down the road,&#8221; Baressi told The Associated Press in an interview from his home in Palm Harbor, Florida. He acknowledged he couldn&#8217;t see the movie, only heard it.
</blockquote>
Brown was a big fan of his Tesla Model S, which he affectionately nicknamed &#8220;Tessy.&#8221; He upolaed 24 videos to his Youtube channel praising and demonstrating the car&#8217;s futuristic features. The last clip Brown ever published was footage from two months ago when his car swerved to avoid an oversized white work truck that cut him off on the highway.
Brown stated in the video&#8217;s description, &#8220;I have done a lot of testing with the sensors in the car and the software capabilities. I have always been impressed with the car, but I had not tested the car&#8217;s side collision avoidance. I am VERY impressed. Excellent job Elon!&#8221; (video below)

<div class="media_embed"><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y4bQBJ2Cfqk" width="560px"></iframe></div>
Tesla&#8217;s CEO Elon Musk tweeted out the news of Brown&#8217;s death:
<div class="media_embed">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Our condolences for the tragic loss <a href="https://t.co/zI2100zEGL">https://t.co/zI2100zEGL</a>
&#8212; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/748620607105839104">June 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
</div>
The company issued a statement saying that Brown, &#8220;[H]ad a loving family and we are beyond saddened by their loss. He was a friend to Tesla and the broader EV community, a person who spent his life focused on innovation and the promise of technology and who believed strongly in Tesla&#8217;s mission. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.&#8221;
AP&#8217;s coverage of the crash included an interview with the driver of the trailer that was hit by the Tesla:
<div class="media_embed"><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5rMHxaMDme8" width="560px"></iframe></div>
Below is Brown&#8217;s video from his Youtube channel from last October demonstrating where to keep your hands while autopilot is engaged:

<div class="media_embed"><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o4ekDdH-B4o" width="560px"></iframe></div>

Tesla says this is the first known death in over 130 million miles of Autopilot operation.

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Tesla

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Tesla Institutes Mass Furloughs, Pay Cuts Over Coronavirus

Elon Musk Announces New Customized Horn, Movement Sounds — And They’re Bizarre

Some Democrats Furious That Elon Musk Donated Cash To Republicans

Actress Mary McCormack Says Husband’s Tesla Caught Fire ‘Out Of The Blue’

SAMUELS: The Moral Case For Tesla

California Slaps Tesla Factory With Safety Probe

First Person Dies Behind Wheel of Self-Driving Car

Menu

Tesla

‘Historic’: Tesla Posts Fourth-Consecutive Quarterly Profit; Now Eligible For S&P 500

Elon Wins: California Will Allow Tesla Plant To Reopen With ‘Safety Precautions’

Trump Sends Message To California Over Elon Musk’s Reopening Feud

Elon Musk Reopens Tesla Plant Against California County’s Orders

‘Not Messing Around’: Tesla CEO Files Lawsuit Against County, Local Mayor Issues Statement

‘The Final Straw’: Elon Musk Says He’ll Move Tesla Headquarters Out Of California, File Lawsuit Over Restrictions

Tesla Stock Tumbles After Elon Musk’s Bizarre Rant: Price ‘Too High,’ People Need ‘FREEDOM’

Tesla Institutes Mass Furloughs, Pay Cuts Over Coronavirus

Elon Musk Announces New Customized Horn, Movement Sounds — And They’re Bizarre

Some Democrats Furious That Elon Musk Donated Cash To Republicans

Actress Mary McCormack Says Husband’s Tesla Caught Fire ‘Out Of The Blue’

SAMUELS: The Moral Case For Tesla

California Slaps Tesla Factory With Safety Probe

First Person Dies Behind Wheel of Self-Driving Car

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