Tesla has initiated the rehiring process for some of the nearly 500 members of its Supercharging team that CEO Elon Musk dismissed in late April.
Among the returning personnel is Max de Zegher, the director of charging for North America, according to sources familiar with the matter. De Zegher was one of the key managers let go by Musk, including senior director Rebecca Tinucci, during the mass layoff.
The exact number of rehired workers remains unclear, and both Musk and de Zegher have not responded to requests for comment.
Musk’s decision to dissolve the team came as a surprise to the electric vehicle sector, as Superchargers have been crucial to Tesla’s success. Despite blowback, Musk pledged to invest “well over” $500 million this year to expand Tesla’s charging network after facing criticism.
Tesla, under Musk’s leadership, has reversed impulsive cost-cutting measures in the past. This move mirrors similar situations at other companies, including Twitter in late 2022.
Since its introduction in 2012, Tesla has grown its Supercharging network to over 6,200 stations and 57,000 connectors globally.