Tesla Disbands Public Relations Department - What Does That Mean?

Tesla has dissolved its PR department — technically becoming the first automaker who doesn’t talk to the press.

It’s something that we have discussed on our podcast several times over the last few months, but now that reporters are publicly complaining about it, we thought we’d clear things up in an article.

Tesla hasn’t responded to a press inquiry in months. We have received the odd email here and there from former press people, but it almost seems to be in an unofficial capacity.

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PUGPROUD - 10/6/2020 12:25:06 PM

+1 Boost

Liberal Musk acting like a republican...cut investment in California, disdain for the press, increase private sector employment, and build wealth thru self initiative, share ownership and risk taking. To paraphrase Winston Churchill regarding the press "One man with conviction will overwhelm a hundred who only have opinions."

Section_31_JTK - 10/6/2020 4:39:48 PM

+2 Boost

It means that Tesla knows that their fanboi owners are so fanatic that they'll forgive the horrible build quality, roofs flying off of new cars, batteries that explode, and anything else that goes wrong because "it's a Tesla".

MDarringer - 10/6/2020 7:07:35 PM

+1 Boost

It means that SanJose is out of a job.

mre30 - 10/6/2020 10:01:38 PM

+3 Boost

It means there will be even more half-truths and/or outright lies/deception to come out of Fremont.

Now there will be no department to whom questions would be directed. I guess that means fewer facts and answers?

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 10/6/2020 8:04:58 PM

+1 Boost

I would then wonder if they still have an investor relations department. If you are a publicly traded firm with a CEO who "says stuff" on Twitter from time to time, you need a PR department. This is a truly dumb and ill advised move for any CEO.

SanJoseDriver - 10/6/2020 8:24:01 PM

+1 Boost

They don't have a marketing department, have pretty much zero sales, why not kill PR as well. Focus everything on product, engineering, and service. I wouldn't be surprised if future companies follow this model.

Section_31_JTK - 10/6/2020 11:21:22 PM

0 Boost

If other companies follow this model, then quality will go straight to hell. Tesla is has the 2nd lowest reliability ratings according to JD Power. Land Rover is lower, but at least their service department employees are polite to their customers. Tesla service won't even answer their damned telephones! They make everyone schedule service via their app, but then then cancel the appointments on their customers because they're so backed up. And even if you can get your broken Tesla into service, they have no parts with which to fix it. When they finally fix it, the part fails again. Only an idiot would buy such a piece of crap.

SanJoseDriver - 10/7/2020 10:12:30 PM

+1 Boost

That's entirely untrue, at least from all of my experiences with them and those of the many Tesla owners I know.

SanJoseDriver - 10/8/2020 5:12:08 PM

+1 Boost

Here is the most recent build quality video for the Model Y. It's not 100% but pretty damn good: https://insideevs.com/features/447761/video-tesla-model-y-build-quality-october-2020/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=RSS-all-articles

ctsang - 10/7/2020 1:19:36 PM

+1 Boost

It lets the buyer do the talking.