Tesla's software chief David Lau is reportedly leaving the company after 13 years. At the same time, Tesla's stock price fell significantly by 10 percent during Black Friday.
A prominent figure at Tesla, software chief David Lau, is said to be leaving the electric car giant. This comes at a time when Tesla's stock experienced a 10 percent plunge during the so-called Black Friday. David Lau's possible departure is creating attention for the company.
According to information from Bloomberg, David Lau has announced his departure. He has been employed at Tesla for 13 years. Since 2017, he has held the title of vice president and head of software development.
Lau is described as a central figure in the company. He has been instrumental in developing the software that controls many functions in Tesla's cars, systems that are often touted in the automotive industry.
The software from Lau's team covers many areas. It includes control systems for the car's powertrain and navigation. It also controls the car's apps and over-the-air software updates.
Bloomberg writes.
The team is also responsible for Tesla's server infrastructure. The robotic systems in production also fall under their area of responsibility. David Lau himself has previously highlighted these areas of responsibility.
David Lau's role and Tesla's software
David Lau has often appeared in public with Elon Musk. Typically, this happened at presentations of important news from Tesla. His role has been visible to the outside world.
Tesla has yet to officially confirm the news of David Lau's departure. The information comes from unnamed sources via Bloomberg. The company has not commented publicly on the situation.
The news of Lau's possible exit comes at a turbulent time for Tesla stock. On Black Friday, the share price fell by more than 10 percent. This happened during a general downturn in global stock markets.
The big drop meant a loss in market value for Tesla. The value fell by around 600 billion kroner in a single day. It was a significant plunge for the electric car manufacturer.
Several factors may have affected the stock price that day. Concerns about the global economy and former President Trump's retaliatory tariffs are cited as possible reasons. The market was generally characterized by uncertainty.
Share price drop and others who have left Tesla
David Lau's departure is not the only one at the management level at Tesla recently. A few weeks ago, another employee left. It was the Swede Petter Winberg.
Petter Winberg was responsible for developing Tesla's crash safety. His work contributed to the cars' high safety ratings in crash tests. Another specialist has left the company.
The two departures in a short period of time can be seen as a sign of changes at Tesla. The company faces continued competition and development pressure. Management changes are not unusual in that situation.
Software remains a core component of Tesla's cars. The company's ability to retain and attract talent in that area is important. The future will show how it handles the loss of experienced people like Lau.
Regardless of the changes in management, Tesla continues to be a central player in the electric car market. You can read much more about Tesla, their latest models such as Model 3 and Model Y, and technologies here at Boosted.dk.
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