Tesla looks for new comms manager, is a PR dept coming back?
Tesla is looking to hire a new product communication manager, and the job description hints that a PR department might finally be coming back.
In 2020, Tesla stopped answering press inquiries, and Electrek later reported that CEO Elon Musk dissolved Tesla’s whole press department.
At the time, we asked Musk what we should do if we had questions for Tesla, and he told us that any question should go through him. Funny enough, that was through Twitter DM and he blocked us (my personal account and Electrek’s) shortly after.
In 2021, Musk commented on someone asking Tesla to hire a PR department again. He turned the idea down and suggested that having a PR department amounts to “manipulating public opinion.”
For the last 4 years, Tesla hasn’t had a spokesperson nor anyone answering questions from the media. Musk has been the sole official mouthpiece for Tesla for a long time, though some more Tesla executives and engineers have started communicating about the company through Musk’s X recently.
But now a new job posting is giving us some hope that things are changing on that front.
Tesla posted a new job listing for a “Vehicle Communications Manager” on LinkedIn, and the job description points to collaborating with “external media”:
As the Vehicle Communications Manager, you will be responsible for managing all external data communication relating to vehicle programs and coordinating efforts with external media. This includes closely collaborating with technical staff on vehicle metrics, managing external vehicle data to achieve consistency and accuracy, approving website content and enabling external media access to assess product. Your work will include advising on new product target setting and assessing program developments as an early customer-ambassador. You will work closely with a wide spectrum of technical and business teams in addition to Vehicle Program Managers, Vehicle Technical Leaders and company executives to align on public facing data and help the world appreciate the impact of Tesla products.
To be fair, Tesla has collaborated with a handful of external media, primarily Jay Leno, Marques Brownlee, and Motortrend, after disbanding its PR department, but even the former member of the PR department that was in charge of those collaborating left earlier this year.
The rest of the job description consists of things that Tesla is already doing, like producing marketing content.
It’s also important to note that Tesla has PR departments in Europe and Asia. It’s only in North America where it doesn’t operate with one.
Electrek’s Take
I think this was one of Elon’s worst moves. The fact that all Tesla comms go through him and through Twitter is nonsense. Most people are not on Twitter.
They are just preaching to the quire there.
Also, “manipulating public opinion”? That shows more where Elon’s mind is than what a PR dept does. Obviously, if he gave them that directive, that’s what they are going to do, but I did work with Tesla PR on several occasions, and they were committed to making sure accurate information about Tesla was being circulated.
A PR department is super helpful for an automaker. It helps get the cars in the hands of auto reporters for reviews and when the media reports a story about Tesla, the automaker can share its side of the story.
When Tesla had a PR department, I think there was objectively more accurate reporting about Tesla. Elon decided against that.
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Environment
Honda teases two 0 Series EV prototypes to be unveiled at CES and hit the global market in 2026
Honda announced it will be back at CES this year, unveiling the next phase of its new 0 Series line of EVs. At this year’s event in Las Vegas, Honda intends to unveil two prototype EVs based on the concepts that debuted a year prior. This will be our next look at Honda’s 0 Series progress as it looks to bring these two initial models to market in 2026.
While Honda is a household name in automotive and other motor-powered vehicles, its presence in the EV space has been limited but growing. The company currently sells the Prologue EV, built atop GM’s Ultium Platform, but it has yet to deliver US consumers an entirely bespoke model.
That era will begin with Honda’s upcoming 0 Series line of all-electric vehicles. We got our first public view of Honda’s new 0 Series design language during CES 2024 this past January when the Japanese automaker unveiled two EV concepts called “Saloon” and “Space-Hub.”
At the time, Honda said the two concepts represented a design precursor to Honda’s next-generation EVs. This past October, I visited Honda’s design center in Japan, where I saw the Saloon concept inside and out. I even got to test drive the automaker’s new 0 Series EV platform. However, it was implemented on an Accord body, so it was difficult to get a feel for how its upcoming bespoke models, like the Saloon, will drive.
Honda has previously stated that the Saloon will be one of two passenger EVs to hit the market in the 0 Series, and the automaker has taken the next step in that process, moving from concepts to prototypes, which it is now teasing ahead of their reveal at CES 2025.
Honda to unveil two 0 Series prototypes, new tech at CES
Honda posted the two teaser images above today, along with the date and location of their official reveal at CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 7. According to Honda, these prototypes represent the next models in the Honda 0 Series, which are slotted to hit global market in 2026.
Honda has yet to share many more details about the EV prototypes, but they are clearly evolutions of the Saloon and Space-Hub concepts that debuted at least one year ago. It seems these two bespoke BEVs will be the first in Honda’s 0 Series lineup to hit the market and offer very different designs for consumers. Per the release:
In January at CES 2024, Honda premiered the Honda 0 Series and its ‘Thin, Light and Wise’ development approach. At CES 2025, Honda will provide further details on this approach with a focus on the ‘Wise’ value.
The “Thin, Light, and Wise” approach was at the core of all of Honda’s presentations and demonstrations during my five days in Japan earlier this year, and I learned a lot about the company’s goals and philosophy as it looks to catch up in a an exciting and ever-evolving global EV market.
That being said, the Honda team kept most of its cards to its chest and was extremely vague about what technologies that we were shown would actually make their way into bonafide production EVs. I found Honda’s unique production and assembly techniques most fascinating, especially since it was some of the only concrete tactics we could confirm.
Equipment like 6,000-ton megacasting machines—six of which will go into operation at Honda’s US production facility in Ohio—and Honda’s proprietary Constant DC Chopping (CDC) welding technology will help the automaker reduce the number of individual parts and overall vehicle weight while increasing passive safety performance.
In terms of the specs of Honda’s 0 Series EVs, however, we are still very much in the dark. In addition to unveiling its two EV prototypes, Honda said it would introduce a new vehicle OS and automated driving technologies that will be implemented in the 0 Series models. So, we will get more insight into what these future BEVs can do (finally).
At CES 2025, Honda will also provide an overview of the System on Chip (SoC) that will support the Honda 0 Series models and the Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), which is “at the core of the ‘Wise’ value.” All eyes will be on the Honda booth on January 7, 2025, when we will follow up with a full recap.
Honda CES 2025 press conference details:
Date/Time: Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 10:30 – 11:00 AM (local time)
Venue: Honda booth (West Hall, booth #4640) at Las Vegas Convention Center
Livestreaming URL: https://youtube.com/live/3M87dqNbY3U
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![Jaguar's controversial $200,000 ultra-luxury EV spotted out in public [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/Jaguars-electric-GT.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Jaguar’s radical new EV has been the center of attention over the past few weeks. For better or worse, the British automaker is plowing ahead with plans to turn sales around with a new lineup of ultra-luxury electric models. As it prepares for a new era, Jaguar’s first EV, an electric 4-door GT, was just spotted in public. Check out the video of the controversial model below.
After unveiling its new Type 00 EV concept, Jaguar has seen more attention over the past month than it has in the past 20 years.
The company claimed the concept was “Jaguar at its best,” showing “an unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation” of the brand. It was unmistakable and unexpected to see the least.
Some loved Jaguar’s bold new design, while many teased the company. Even Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and Lucid Motors had something to say. Musk wrote on X, “Do you sell cars?” while Lucid responded with a photo of its souped-up Air Sapphire luxury sedan.
Jaguar will stop building most models by the end of the year as it preps for a new all-electric luxury lineup. Although Jaguar Land Rover said the new EVs would cost over £100,000 ($130,000), prices will be even higher.
In an interview with The Sunday Times (Via EuroNews) earlier this month, CEO Adrian Mardell said that the new lineup will likely be priced around £150,000, or nearly $200,000.
With its official debut coming up, Jaguar’s first EV from the new lineup was spotted testing in public. The new video from KindelAuto reveals the 4-door test vehicle near JLR’s engineering center.
Despite the camouflage, you can see the prototype stays close to the Type 00 concept design with a fastback profile and “exuberant proportions.”
Jaguar will reveal its new 4-door EV GT in late 2025, with sales expected to follow in mid-2026. Based on its new JEA (Jaguar Electric Architecture), the company expects an EPA driving range of 430 miles (692 km) and up to 478 miles (770 km) on the WLTP cycle.
What do you think of Jaguar’s controversial new luxury EV? Can it survive the transition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Walmart is working with community solar developer and operator Nexamp to build 31 community solar farms across the US.
The community solar farms are expected to generate over 120 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, create 1,500 construction and operation jobs, and help thousands of households and businesses save money on their energy bills.
This isn’t Walmart’s first collaboration with Nexamp – in 2021, they worked together on a group of solar projects in New York. Now, they’re expanding the effort to bring solar access to communities in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Community solar makes it easier for people to take advantage of clean energy. By subscribing to energy from these solar farms, residents and businesses can lower their utility bills without needing rooftop panels or paying upfront costs. Nexamp estimates these projects will collectively save subscribers over $2 million each year.
“Working with Walmart to expand access to affordable, clean energy is an exciting opportunity for Nexamp and for the communities we serve,” said Nexamp CEO Zaid Ashai. “Together, we are working to deliver benefits for thousands of households across the country.”
Frank Palladino, Walmart’s vice president of renewable energy strategy, highlighted the impact: “Our collaboration with Nexamp is intended to help communities save money on energy bills, strengthen local grid infrastructure, and drive local job creation.”
Walmart has made a pledge to enable 10 GW of new clean energy projects by 2030.
Read more: Wisconsin’s most powerful solar farm just got the go-ahead
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