Tesla engineer of 8 years resigns, accuses Elon Musk of manipulating public opinion

He admitted that he was eventually forced to leave because the leadership environment deviated from the original mission.

Giorgio Balestrieri, Tesla’s European energy trading algorithm engineer, has announced his departure from the company after eight years. In a public statement, he recalled his proud journey, but admitted that he was ultimately forced to leave because of a leadership environment that deviated from the original mission. He accused Elon Musk of “manipulating public opinion,” accommodating climate change deniers, and undermining democratic institutions.

This departure, according to many observers, is not simply a personal matter but reflects a rift within Tesla – where many engineers and middle managers are increasingly frustrated with the leadership direction.

Meanwhile, Tesla is facing a double crisis of personnel and sales. In Europe, the market that is considered the strategic center of the company, the company’s sales have been falling steadily. In July 2025 alone, the number of cars sold decreased by 40% compared to the same period last year, and in France the numbers were even worse, with a decrease of more than 47% in August.

Markets such as Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands have seen an average decline of over 30% since the beginning of the year. This pressure comes from many sides: fierce competition from Chinese car manufacturers such as BYD with diverse models and lower prices, changes in subsidy policies that increase the cost of buying electric cars, high interest rates that discourage consumers, and, no less important, Elon Musk’s personal image with controversial statements.

Tesla has been cutting staff in recent years to reduce costs. In 2024 alone, the company laid off more than 10% of its global workforce, or about 14,000 people. Many senior managers and veteran engineers left, leaving a difficult-to-fill staff gap in a context where Tesla needs to maintain its competitiveness.

A brutal work culture, coupled with a lack of transparency in strategic direction, has raised questions about Tesla’s ability to retain talent. Balestrieri’s resignation is one of many examples of this.

The inevitable result has been a significant contraction in Tesla’s profits and margins. The need to constantly cut prices to maintain market share has left revenue insufficient to cover costs, while massive investments in R&D, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving continue to consume resources. Although Tesla plans to increase production capacity at its Berlin factory in the second half of 2025, and plans to launch improved versions of the Model 3 and Model Y to regain traction, the competitive challenge from BYD and European automakers is increasingly fierce.

The Tesla brand—once a symbol of clean energy and innovation—is now beset by controversies over leadership, internal culture, and frustration among both employees and consumers. With its longtime leadership no longer motivated by the mission it once believed in, Tesla may have to ask itself: can it maintain its leadership in the electric vehicle era without first repairing the trust of its own people?