Tesla Engineer Fired After Raising Concerns About Musk’s Social Media Behavior

In a controversial move, Tesla has reportedly dismissed Jared Ottmann, an engineer in the company’s battery thermal supplier industrialization engineering team, after he raised concerns about CEO Elon Musk’s behavior on social media.

Ottmann, who had been with Tesla for six years and experienced four promotions, asserted that he had been voicing his worries internally for the past three years, but intensified his efforts following Musk’s contentious actions during and after the Trump inauguration.

Ottmann particularly took issue with a tweet from Musk, in which the CEO appeared to endorse a Nazi salute without clarification or apology.

Musk retaliated against media outlets that suggested his gesture was inappropriate

Rather than addressing the criticism, Musk retaliated against media outlets that suggested his gesture was inappropriate, further fueling the climate of fear among Tesla employees who might consider speaking out.

Insiders at Tesla have increasingly highlighted the growing unease regarding Musk’s increasingly incendiary online presence. Reports suggest that Musk’s behavior has created an environment where employees feel pressured to avoid dissent or criticism, lest they suffer similar repercussions to Ottmann.

One Tesla insider noted that the company may not be functioning as a true meritocracy anymore, warning that talent could be deterred as the prevailing expectation shifts toward unwavering support for Musk.

While Ottmann received personal backing from some colleagues, he reported that Tesla’s higher management remained largely silent on his complaints.

His situation illustrates a broader concern about the suppression of dissent within the company, contradicting Musk’s self-description as a “free speech absolutist.” Experts indicate that such an environment could hinder Tesla’s ability to attract top engineering talent in the future.