Tesla has just lost its two best designers, is the future of the company at risk?

Tesla has lost two of its top car designers, David Imai and Bernard Lee, amid a broader talent exodus that has affected the company over the past year.

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This exodus is exacerbated by the staff cuts that have negatively impacted morale within the company.

Goodbye to David Imai and Bernard Lee

David Imai, who joined Tesla in 2011, has been a key figure in the development of some of the company’s most iconic designs, including the Model 3.

He rose to the position of Design Director in 2019 and has been at the forefront of Tesla’s modern aesthetic. Recently, Imai announced his departure to join Arc, a manufacturer of electric boats, as Chief Designer, sharing the news through his LinkedIn profile.

For his part, Bernard Lee, another pillar in Tesla’s design team, was one of the founding members of the company’s design studio. Since joining in 2008, he has left his mark on a series of iconic vehicles, although his departure was formalized after his return in 2020 following a brief period in teaching.

Although the news of his departure was not reported until now, his LinkedIn update confirms that he left the company in November 2024.

Tesla still has a team of talented designers, but the loss of these two designers represents a significant blow at a critical time for the brand, which is facing challenges in its efforts to maintain its leadership in the electric vehicle market.

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Imai and Lee were fundamental in creating designs that revolutionized the industry and helped with the mass acceptance of electric cars, making a significant difference in the contemporary automotive landscape.