Tesla’s Future Hinges on Musk’s Leadership, Warns Former Executive
Former Tesla executive Peter Bardenfelth-Hansen issued a stark warning about the company's valuation and direction should Elon Musk depart. Speaking ahead of a critical shareholder vote on Musk's $878 billion pay package, Bardenfelth-Hansen asserted Tesla would devolve into an "ordinary car manufacturer" without its visionary CEO, potentially losing 80% of its market value.
The compensation package ties Musk's rewards to ambitious performance targets that could propel Tesla to an $8.5 trillion valuation. Board members argue only Musk can execute his transformative vision of evolving Tesla beyond automotive manufacturing into AI-driven technologies like robotaxis and humanoid robots.
"Will the next decade be under Elon's leadership or not?" posed Bardenfelth-Hansen. "Without him, Tesla becomes just another OEM—a car company stripped of its disruptive potential." The remarks underscore the high-stakes nature of today's shareholder decision, which could shape Tesla's trajectory for years to come.