Thread by @lopezlinette

How do I know so much about how @elonmusk does things? I spent 3 years investigating Tesla at @BusinessInsider from 2018-2021. Here are some of sloppy, dangerous, callous, things I learned:

Tesla put batteries with potentially defective cooling systems in people's cars. And they knew about it. businessinsider.com/tesla-faulty-b…

That time Elon told his engineers to stop doing brake tests on Model 3s. The tests were finding too many defects, and he wanted speed up the manufacturing process. Is that "hardcore engineering?" businessinsider.com/tesla-elon-mus…

Tesla has been much faster to do recalls in China than in the US. One of the China recalls sounds like it could be about this defect I reported on, known within the company for years. businessinsider.com/aladdin-stars-…

This story put me on Tesla's sh*tlist. It shows a factory in chaos, and explains why Musk was desperately behind schedule while building the Model 3. And if you're looking at it from an accounting lens, it's extremely suspect too. businessinsider.com/tesla-model-3-…

Musk would later admit Tesla was on the verge of bankruptcy during this period.

More on the accounting implications of millions of dollars of waste (that doesn't seem to appear anywhere on Tesla's balance sheet). Yes, I'm a nerd. businessinsider.com/tesla-millions…

And yes, there was that time @elonmusk was a total creep to me on this app, which only convinced me I was asking good questions.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1014987505978863616

Musk has always been reckless. His cheerleaders Morgan Stanley almost stabbed him in the back in 2019 when Tesla looked like it might go bankrupt. businessinsider.com/tesla-analyst-…

I can't imagine how those bankers feel now that he's completely screwed them with this Twitter deal. If he had closed earlier, it would be much easier to unload the debt. businessinsider.com/elon-musk-twit…

And don't even get me started on what Tesla's relationship with the Chinese gvmnt may bring. They own the land his Shanghai factory sits on and can take it back whenever they think Elon's out of line. businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesl…

China's gvmnt has shown @elonmusk that it can cripple Tesla sales if it feels like it. It did it back in 2021. businessinsider.com/how-china-coul…

I wouldn't be surprised if Tesla acquires Twitter. Why? Because that's how @elonmusk bailed himself (and his family) out when Solarcity was going bust. He made up some synergies for Tesla, lied about some new Solarcity product — merger managed. businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesl…

Solarcity has been a declining share of Tesla's business basically since it was acquired. And it's been a MESS. The company had to initiate a stealth, nationwide plan to switch out defective parts that could lead to fires. businessinsider.com/tesla-project-…

I've talked to dozens of SolarCity employees and customers. This is what I mean when I say I've seen @elonmusk do "sloppy" and "callous" business. businessinsider.com/tesla-solar-pa…

Oh, and Tesla was HORRIBLE to workers during the pandemic. businessinsider.com/tesla-coronavi…

And if you're wondering how long @elonmusk has been surrounded exclusively by sycophants, Tesla's last respectable GC quit after just 2 months in 2019. businessinsider.com/teslas-general…

I'm sure the Twitter people knew what kind of chaos to expect. Musk is proud of how life-sucking and cultish working for him can be. businessinsider.com/tesla-employee…

Anyway, I'll leave you with one of the first pieces I ever wrote about @elonmusk, before I started any investigating, It was clear to me then what I think more people understand about him now. businessinsider.com/elon-musk-does…