--- title: "Elon Musk Starts Rehiring Some of the Supercharger People He Fired" description: "Tesla has begun rehiring some of the 500-employee Supercharger team Elon Musk let go in its entirety last month, Bloomberg reports." date: "2024-05-14" modified: "2024-05-14" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-rehiring-supercharger-people" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "charging stations" - "elon musk" - "supercharger network" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Elon Musk Starts Rehiring Some of the Supercharger People He Fired ![Tesla has begun rehiring some of the 500-employee Supercharger team Elon Musk let go in its entirety last month, Bloomberg reports.]() *\Image: ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images\* ## Reverse! Reverse! Tesla CEO Elon Musk seems to be having second thoughts about [firing]() his EV maker's entire Supercharger team. Why? Because the company has begun rehiring some of the 500-employee team Musk let go in its entirety last month, [*Bloomberg* reports](). For instance, director of charging for North America Max de Zegher, who once reported to former senior director of EV charging Rebecca Tinucci, has reportedly been reinstated. It's unclear how many team members have been rehired, and as expected, Tesla and Musk ignored *Bloomberg*'s requests for comment. The news highlights just how much chaos Musk has brought upon the ailing EV maker. Following weeks of layoffs, many have since pointed the finger at Musk, arguing his [abrasive commentary]() and unpredictable leadership are [tanking the company's reputation]() and throwing its operations into disarray. In other words, the latest news shouldn't come as a surprise, especially because it's far from the first time Musk has backtracked on a controversial and short-sighted decision — in [many ways](), in fact, it's [become one of his signature moves](). ## Musked Up Musk's unexpected decision to dissolve the Supercharger team came as a shock last month. Many of the company's most ardent supporters [were furious](), pointing out that the company's network of fast chargers was the number one reason they had bought a Tesla in the first place. The changes became apparent almost immediately, with Tesla [pulling out of key leases]() and [ghosting contractors](). Facing immense backlash, Musk [quickly and conveniently changed]() his tune, [promising]() that he would spend "well over" $500 million to expand Tesla’s Supercharger network, but stopping well short of explaining the significance behind that number. Given his latest decision to rehire De Zegher, Musk has clearly gotten cold feet about cutting off one of the company's limbs. "Supercharging is the largest network globally, with the highest capital + operational efficiency, and we will continue to sustain & grow the network," the official X account of the company's charging department [tweeted](). "Thank you to site hosts & suppliers for your patience as we restructure internally!" "Then why did Elon fire the team that achieved all that?" *Electrek* editor-in-chief Fred Lambert quickly [shot back](). **More on Tesla:** *[Coolant Starts Pouring Out of Brand New Cybertruck After Driving 35 Miles]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()