Elon Musk Drove His Engineers Insane When He Demanded A Last-Minute Design Change To The Tesla Model S
Getty ImagesElon Musk is a design genius and a visionary - but that doesn't mean his "relentless perfectionism" doesn't get under his employees' skin from time to time.
In one notable instance, Musk demanded his engineers make a major last-minute design change to the first Model S - just three weeks before the very first delivery, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Musk said he wanted the Model S to have bigger rear tires, simply because "they looked better," according to current and former Tesla employees.
The Tesla engineers protested: They said the switch would have a major impact on the car's anti-lock braking system and even its range. They warned Musk that Tesla might not be able to honor its liability warranty if they released the car with bigger tires.
None of this mattered to Musk. He wanted his bigger tires, and he got them. And according to one Tesla employee who was present during the initial decision, the design changes went through "without a hitch."
As is often the case at Tesla, it's Musk's way or the highway.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- From terrace to table: 8 Edible plants you can grow in your home
- India fourth largest military spender globally in 2023: SIPRI report
- New study forecasts high chance of record-breaking heat and humidity in India in the coming months
- Gold plunges ₹1,450 to ₹72,200, silver prices dive by ₹2,300
- Strong domestic demand supporting India's growth: Morgan Stanley