Left Tesla after a seven-year tenure, due to disagreements with Elon Musk and inability to continue my support.
Trae Cervantes, a former Tesla employee who started working at the company's Gigafactory in Nevada in 2018, has left his position after seven years. Cervantes, who rose from a production associate to an engineering technician, found the work physically demanding but rewarding, appreciating the career growth and benefits offered by Tesla.
However, over time, Cervantes grew disillusioned with CEO Elon Musk's increasingly controversial public behaviour and political involvement. Despite initially supporting Musk through early controversies, Cervantes' loyalty waned as Musk became more focused on political activities, including events that Cervantes felt were morally wrong.
One such event was a giveaway related to prospective voters, and another was an incident where Musk reportedly made a Nazi salute. These actions conflicted with Cervantes' values, prompting him to research more about Musk and Tesla's unfulfilled promises, such as around full self-driving technology and more affordable electric cars.
Cervantes' decision to leave Tesla was further influenced by unfulfilled promises and the shift in the company's culture from being innovation-driven to being more centered on Musk's political ambitions. He expressed his reasons for leaving to his manager, including feeling morally compromised every time he walked through the doors.
Before quitting, Cervantes changed his profile picture on Teams to a Musk meme, symbolising his discontent. He did not have a job lined up when he left Tesla, but he decided to leave rather than risk layoffs or waiting for a severance. Cervantes cried a little as he left Tesla after seven years, but he advised others in his position to leave if they feel uncomfortable.
Cervantes earned a green belt for Lean Six Sigma while at Tesla and worked in at least four different positions at the Tesla factory in Sparks, Nevada. He described his time at Tesla as a positive experience, but he felt it was time to move on due to his moral conflicts with Musk's actions and the direction the company was taking.
References: [1] CNBC, 2022. "Former Tesla employee says he quit because of Elon Musk's political actions." [online] Available at:
What about the future of full self-driving technology at Tesla? Cervantes' recent departure, inspired by moral disagreements with Musk's actions and the company's shift towards political ambitions, may signal a shift in the technology sector's view on Tesla.
