Interns at Tesla Allegedly Experience Intense Scrutiny by Elon Musk

Interns Working for Tesla Allegedly Face Criticism from Elon Musk

Elon Musk's onslaught continues at Tesla as he swings into "full demon mode," according to his biographer, leaving an unlucky batch of summer interns in the dust. College students have taken to LinkedIn to share their dashed dreams and ruined plans, all thanks to Musk's relentless cost-cutting measures, as reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday.

"Gonna have to pass on Tesla this summer," lamented a North Carolina State University student on LinkedIn, who confidently announced his acceptance back in March. "After a brief, bitter phone call lasting no more than two minutes, I'm left with nothing but a smoking wreck of a summer plan."

Another soon-to-be intern voiced their frustration on the platform, claiming, "I couldn't have picked a worse time for a surprise message." Similarly, a third student shared their disappointment of having their internship offer revoked, citing Tesla's recent round of #masslayoffs.

These candid LinkedIn posts paint a bleak picture of the human impact behind Tesla's cost-reduction efforts. The company's Summer 2024 intern class was set to start in a matter of weeks, but these students had already made arrangements for housing, travel, and even turned down other job offers in anticipation of working for Musk's automotive powerhouse. Tesla accepts over 3,000 college students as interns each year, as noted in its 2022 Impact Report.

Tesla's intern exodus is part of a broader wave of layoffs sweeping the company. This week, Musk let go of the entire 500-person team managing the Supercharger Network, which reportedly included top executives who were assured of their critical role in the company just days prior. Last month, Tesla announced that 14,000 employees would be let go following a dismal earnings report revealing disappointing car sales.

Summer interns at Tesla typically earn around $35 an hour, based on data compiled by Indeed. With their removal, it's uncertain how significant the cost savings will be for the company, given they appear to be among Tesla's lowest-paid employees. Musk recently stated in a memo to staff that all employees would need to pass a test of excellence, necessity, and trustworthiness, as reported by The Information.

Facing an uphill battle in the coming months, Tesla must make headway on developing new, affordable electric vehicle models while preparing a new robotaxi for a showcase in August. Amid all this, Musk remains dedicated to advancing his autonomous driving initiatives, which have become increasingly vital to Tesla's future business model. Whether this push for progress will leave any room for summer interns remains a mystery.

Despite the lack of specific information on the current situation, Musk's influence on Tesla has broad impacts on the brand, company finances, and employee morale. The rocky stock performance, tariffs, and negative brand image associated with Musk may be factors that influenced the decisions made with regards to the summer interns. Furthermore, as cost-cutting efforts continue to spread across Tesla, student interns could face reduced investment in non-core areas like internships, while questions linger about the company's financial stability and brand reputation.

Given Musk's recent cost-cutting measures at Tesla, it's likely that summer internship programs may be subject to changes in the future.
On LinkedIn, students who were looking forward to interning at Tesla have shared their disappointment and frustration about the dissolution of their internships.
Tech influencer Elon Musk's influence extends beyond just the technology sector; it also impacts the job market, as seen with the recent changes in Tesla's internship program.
As Tesla moves towards developing new and affordable electric vehicle models and preparing for a robotaxi showcase, the future of summer internships within the company remains uncertain.