Tesla manager fired for sounding the alarm explains why the automaker is screwed
A Tesla manager who was recently fired for warning that CEO Elon Musk was ruining the company, Matthew LaBrot, has given an interview to give more details about the situation and how he doesn’t see Tesla coming out of it.
Last month, we reported on how LaBrot, a 5-year veteran manager at Tesla, led an effort to represent Tesla employees who believe CEO Elon Musk has become an obstacle to the company’s success through an open letter.
He called for Musk to resign:
The damage done to Elon’s personal brand is now irreversible and as the public face of Tesla, that damage has become our burden. We are now at a crossroads: continue with Elon as CEO and face further decline as customers abandon the brand, or move forward without him and allow our products and mission to succeed or fail on their own.
Unsurprisingly, he was quickly let go.
LaBrot has never given an interview with Hard Reset in which he went into a lot more detail about the situation.
First off, after being attacked by Musk fans, LaBrot established that he was a successful employee at Tesla.
He joined the automaker in 2019 as an assistant manager and quickly advanced through the ranks, becoming a general manager and subsequently transitioning to corporate roles in sales and training.
He said:
I think I added a ton of value, especially the last position. Every sales and delivery employee was being trained through my words. And I think that that shows the trust that Tesla had in me. It is kind of crazy to be on the outside now, no longer being a part of that.
LaBrot owns a Cybertruck and a Model Y. You can’t call him a Tesla hater.
He is a true believer in the mission to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, and his job revolved around that:
You know, this wasn’t a new thing for me. Over my entire time at Tesla, I considered myself an activist for electric vehicles, and clean energy. For almost six years, I’ve been focused on overcoming misinformation about EVs and helping grow that mission. It has become easier in recent years, but in my first couple of years at the company, every sales conversation we would have involved trying to change people’s opinions. Once we hit a tipping point where the person who’s running this company is now pushing customers away from the mission, then the priority shifted. That priority was to be an activist to try to save the company.
The former Tesla manager explained that he used to admire Musk and that he even joined Twitter when he bought it, but he quickly got disillusioned by it.
From there, he reported starting to see growing difficulties trying to convince Tesla customers to upgrade and return to the brand, which he partly linked to what Musk was saying on the social media platform and his public support for people Tesla has been fighting in its mission to accelerate EV adoption.
When asked how Musk has been allowed to continue running Tesla amid all the various controversies, he said that he thought the board would act after Trump’s inauguration, but he saw them instead doubling down, allowing him to lead all-hands meetings by himself without other leadership.
He became the clear sole leader at Tesla.
LaBrott also highlighted how Tesla claimed that the decline in sales in Q1 was solely due to the Model Y changeover, as we have been extensively reporting over the last few months, the problem is much bigger:
Without speaking to anything that hasn’t been published — the Q1 numbers obviously came out and showed a decline. You’ll hear what they’re saying about while we were ramping up production, that’s why we didn’t sell very many cars. People were waiting for new Model Y. Fine. But now you can just use your eyes and drive by any location and see how many new Model Ys are available, in inventory. You can go to the Tesla website, and get almost any configuration of a new Model Y available same day. That is not how Tesla works. The company needs a backlog in orders to hit the delivery numbers that they have.
The former manager was pretty clear that he doesn’t see this trend getting reversed for anything other than Musk leaving and even also selling his stake in Tesla:
I don’t think that there’s anything he can do to change the people’s opinion that have decided they’re not going to support Tesla outside of him leaving. And even a lot of people that I’ve spoken to don’t even think that’s enough at this point. They want him to sell all his shares and things like that, which I don’t expect. I think for Tesla, as far as vehicle sales go, it’s game over.
He highlighted that he understands that Musk has been claiming he doesn’t care about EV sales anymore because he believes it’s all about autonomous driving and robots, which LaBrot actually likes as a long term goal, but he thinks the current EV sale trend will result in Tesla becoming unprofitable before it can get there.
LaBrot had a message to current Tesla employees:
For employees still there, collect your paycheck if you want, ride this thing down to the grave, that makes sense to me financially. But I think it’s just important for people to acknowledge that this is not going to get better with that guy in charge.
Though he sympathizes with people over the current job market and believes that companies are taking advantage of this situation, which discourages people from speaking out against situations like the one at Tesla.
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Back in 2018, when most electric motorcycle startups were showing off what looked like clunky science experiments or budget-minded e-scooters, a little company out of Stuttgart quietly unveiled one of the wildest-looking two-wheelers I’d ever seen. As one of the first motorcycle journalists to cover Sol Motors and their outlandish debut seven years ago, I’ve been keeping tabs on them ever since. And now I am excited to share that the Sol Pocket Rocket is finally preparing to launch in full production form. Yes, really.
The German company is now taking pre-orders for its uniquely tubular electric motorcycle that somehow looks like a mashup between a torpedo, an irrigation pipe, and a Star Wars prop. And yet, despite its cartoonish silhouette, it might just be one of the coolest ultra-urban e-motos headed for the streets.
The Sol Pocket Rocket comes in two versions: the standard model and the more powerful Pocket Rocket S. The latter packs an 8.5 kW (roughly 11.4 hp) electric motor that propels the bike to a top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph), while the standard version tops out at 45 km/h (28 mph), putting it in moped territory in many markets.
That makes it a perfect fit for cities, especially in Europe where light electric mopeds and motorcycles are gaining traction among young riders who want something fast, fun, and emissions-free, but without the size, weight, or cost of a traditional motorcycle. The bike’s 2.5 kWh battery may not sound like much, but the company says it offers up to 108 km (67 miles) of range for the lower speed version or 68 km (42 miles) of range for the higher speed version, which is generally more than enough for most urban commutes. The battery is also removable, allowing for convenient charging inside your apartment or office. That can be a neat trick for riders who charge at work, essentially doubling the maximum range they can commute.
And while we’re on the topic of design – yes, it’s unusual. The Pocket Rocket’s oversized aluminum top tube houses the battery and electronics, while a minimalist seat juts out from the back like a café racer’s rear hump. There’s no bodywork to speak of, giving it a raw and industrial aesthetic that’s either futuristic or ridiculous, depending on the lighting and your mood. But I’ve got to admit, I kind of love it.
The frame, wheels, and swingarm are all nicely machined, giving the whole thing a premium feel, or at least as premium as a potato gun on wheels can look. It’s like if Bauhaus made a Hot Wheels bike that could run on electrons.
Sol Motors is positioning the Pocket Rocket not just as a stylish e-motorcycle, but as a viable alternative to cars for city dwellers who want to skip traffic and parking headaches. It’s light, fast enough for urban streets, and small enough to squeeze into even the tiniest bike parking spot.
Pre-orders are now open and pricing starts at €5,990 for the standard model and €6,980 for the S version. That’s certainly not cheap, but not outrageous in today’s market for well-designed, European-made electric two-wheelers.
Electrek’s Take
I’ve covered a lot of oddball EVs over the years, but the Sol Pocket Rocket has a special place in my heart. There’s something honest about a company that doubles down on such a bold design and actually makes it work. Sure, it looks like a giant spool holder from the wrong angle, but it also looks like a lot of fun from the right angle! And the fact that it’s fast, fun, and actually headed to production means it offers three things that are far from a guarantee in today’s market.
It may have taken the scenic route and had a false start or two, but it looks like the company is finally ready to put that rubber on the road for good this time.
After nearly seven years of anticipation, I’m thrilled to see this bizarre beauty finally hitting the road. And hey, if anyone wants to send one over for a review, my driveway’s been waiting just as long.
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Environment
The 2026 Chevy Blazer EV lineup looks a bit different, but prices still start at under $45K
Chevy is introducing an updated lineup for the 2026 Blazer EV, including a few slight modifications. Despite the changes, prices will still start at under $45,000.
2026 Chevy Blazer EV prices by trim
GM’s Chevrolet is currently the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Through May, Chevy sold over 37,000 EVs, surpassing Ford, which sold about 34,000.
Although the Equinox EV stole the spotlight, becoming the third top-selling EV behind Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, Chevy’s electric Blazer has quiety been driving growth. In April, the Chevy Blazer EV was the sixth-best-selling EV.
With “the Equinnox and Blazer right in the heart of the market, they are really benefitting from that,” Tom Libby, an analyst at S&P Global Mobility, explained.
With the 2026 model years arriving with a few updates, Chevy looks to continue closing the gap with Tesla. Earlier this month, the 2026 Chevy Silverado EV configurator went live with base prices about $10,000 cheaper than the outgoing model. Now, it looks like the electric Blazer will be next.
New order guide data show the 2026 Chevy Blazer EV LT FWD will still start at $44,600, not including the destination fee. The 2026 model year will be available in FWD, AWD, and performance AWD configurations. However, Chevy is dropping the RWD option.
Although the base LT model is priced the same, the 2026 Chevy Blazer RS AWD is $500 more than last year’s model, starting at $50,400.
The 615 horsepower Blazer EV SS, the quickest SS Chevy vehicle to date, will still start at $60,600. Like the 2025MY, GM’s Super Cruise is standard on the SS and available for other trims. It costs $3,255 this year, the same as it did in 2025.
Other upgrades for the new model include a new Polar White Tricoat paint option and a standard dual-level charging cord, but it still lacks a NACS port.
A Chevy spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver last month that “To simplify the product lineup while still offering the most popular options for consumers, RWD will not be available beginning with the 2026 model year.”
Up next will be the 2026 Chevy Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV,” as GM calls it. The base 2025 LT model starts at $34,995. Chevy keeping entry-level Blazer prices the same could be a good sign for the Equinox.
| 2026 Chevy Blazer EV trim | Starting MSRP* | Range (*2025MY EPA-estimated) |
| LT FWD | $44,600 | 312 miles |
| RS FWD | $50,400 | 312 miles |
| SS AWD | $60,600 | 303 miles |
With the federal EV tax credit set to expire at the end of September, Chevy is offering some serious savings opportunities. Starting at just $289 per month, the 2025 Equinox EV is hard to pass up. GM is also offering 0% APR across all 2025 Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Silverado EV models.
Ready to test one out for yourself? You can use our links below to find deals on Chevy EV models at a dealer near you.
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Tesla has expanded the service area of its Robotaxi service in Austin, and it did so to draw a penis-shaped service map, seemingly for no other reason than to satisfy the juvenile humor of its CEO, but what it really achieved is to illustrate how unserious Tesla’s Robotaxi business is compared to other efforts.
Last month, Tesla launched its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, and as expected, the service was mostly for show and to give CEO Elon Musk a win after years of failed predictions regarding Tesla’s self-driving efforts.
The service was launched only for a small group of Tesla stock promoters on X, and it required a Tesla employee sitting in the front seat with a finger on a kill switch at all times.
In other words, it’s basically Tesla’s Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) in consumer vehicles, but with the supervisor moved from the driver’s seat to the front passenger seat.
Tesla also launched into a small area of South Austin, but last week, Musk said that the company would expand the service area by the weekend.
Late on Sunday, Tesla did update the service area, and it now looks like this:
There’s no practical reason to cover this specific section of Austin. The update appears to be solely to satisfy Musk’s famously juvenile sense of humor, which includes fascinations with the numbers “69” and “420”.
Tesla has also been offering rides in Robotaxi (invite-only) for $4.20 a ride.
In practice, what this joke does is illustrate just how unserious Tesla’s Robotaxi effort is in comparison to other autonomous ride-hailing programs.
Waymo already operates a larger area of Austin, and it does so without any supervisor inside the vehicle. It also operates in San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix:
Tesla shareholders are holding on to the hope that Tesla will be able to scale faster, but Waymo has even launched in Atlanta since Tesla launched its limited service in Austin, and they are preparing to launch in Philadelphia and New York.
Meanwhile, Tesla still operates with supervisors inside its vehicles – a step that Waymo completed years ago.
Electrek’s Take
Look, I love a joke as much as the next guy, but when the whole service is a joke, maybe don’t draw a penis with the service map.
In China, I rode in Baidu’s Apollo Go, and it simply works without anyone in the car, and it is in operation in half a dozen cities.
It’s cool to see Tesla making progress here, but what’s less cool is the moving of the goalpost that leads to people forgetting that Tesla has promised unsupervised self-driving in all vehicles built since 2016.
Meanwhile, its progress has yet to outpace competition and CEO Elon Musk is out there claiming Tesla is the leader in self-driving with no close second.
It’s a level of delusion that you don’t want to see in someone deploying “self-driving” 5,000-lb machines moving at high speeds on public roads.
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