Eight Years, a Final Blast: A Tesla Engineer Walks Out, Accuses Elon Musk of Damaging Tesla's Mission and Democratic Health
After eight years at Tesla, Giorgio Balestrieri, a staff algorithms engineer who joined in 2017, quit and published a blistering message directed at Elon Musk. His central claim: Musk's leadership has done huge damage to Tesla's mission—and to the health of democratic institutions in several countries. He writes that Musk's decision-making is "seriously compromised" and that the departure is about more than politics. In his LinkedIn post, Balestrieri links his exit to the energy transition Tesla has framed around battery storage and renewables. He notes that Autobidder, Tesla's energy trading platform, is part of a broader vision where data and algorithms enable people and businesses to monetize stored energy from wind and solar. He argues that this transition depends on a steadfast commitment to green energy, a commitment he no longer sees from Musk.
In This Article:
Autobidder, Energy Storage, and a Green Grid
Balestrieri worked on Autobidder, Tesla's energy trading platform, which allows individuals and businesses to monetize the energy stored in battery systems—often generated by wind and solar. He argues that battery storage initiatives are key to operating low-carbon grids, and that data and algorithms have taken center stage in the energy transition. The message is clear: the technical backbone—algorithms, data, and storage—must remain at the heart of Tesla's mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. Yet the engineer says his perception of that commitment has shifted.
A Political Reckoning: Lying to the Public, Misinformation, and Ties to Oil Interests
In his post, Balestrieri writes, "This is not just about politics: it's about lying to the public, manipulating public discourse, targeting minorities and supporting climate change deniers and political forces aligned with the oil and gas industry." He argues that the current US administration is slowing down the energy transition, a stance he sees as incompatible with Tesla's mission. The confrontation is not only about corporate strategy; it is framed as a broader ethical and political crisis that challenges the integrity of public discourse around climate change.
From Paris to Trump: Musk's Shifting Alliances in the Climate Debate
Musk's public stance on climate has fluctuated with the political winds. The article recalls that he once stood with climate activists, tweeting, "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world." This came in 2017, a year that also marked Balestrieri’s arrival at Tesla Energy. Trump's early presidency pushed fossil fuels and pulled the US from the Paris climate accord, prompting Musk to step away from advisory roles. The piece notes other consequences—federal climate research grants being cut, climate information being scrubbed from government sites, and NASA climate satellites facing downsizing—within a broader context of a national climate policy shift.
A Personal Resolve: Leaving Tesla, but Backing the Energy Transition
Facing the reality of Musk's growing stake in Tesla—"huge (and growing, inexplicably) stake"—Balestrieri says, "I can't convince myself anymore that this is the right place to be." Yet he wishes well to those who stay and keep pushing for the transition to sustainable energy. He adds a final note of hope for Tesla and Tesla Energy, hoping they will continue to accelerate the energy transition even as he departs. The engineer signs off with a measured, hopeful final wish for those who remain to keep working toward a greener future.
