Tesla Denies Reports About Elon Musk Replacement

American EV automaker Tesla has denied reports that it search a replacement for Elon Musk. Tesla Inc. has strongly denied a Wall Street Jour...

American EV automaker Tesla has denied reports that it search a replacement for Elon Musk.

Tesla Inc. has strongly denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming that its board of directors recently began seeking a replacement for CEO Elon Musk. The report suggested that, around four weeks ago, Tesla's board had initiated discussions with executive recruiters to explore potential successors for Musk’s role.

According to the article, unnamed sources claimed the search was spurred by concerns over Musk's divided attention, given his leadership roles at companies including SpaceX, xAI, and Neuralink, as well as his ownership of social media platform X (formerly Twitter). However, Tesla swiftly issued a rebuttal, calling the report "false" and "unsubstantiated."

Robyn Denholm, Tesla’s board chair, directly addressed the claims on X, stating: “We have never initiated a CEO search. Elon continues to have the full support and confidence of our board.” Her response comes amidst public scrutiny following her recent sale of a significant portion of her Tesla stock, which some interpreted as a signal of shifting internal sentiment — a suggestion she dismissed.

The story has added to ongoing speculation around succession planning at the electric carmaker. Musk, while undeniably central to Tesla’s brand and innovation, has drawn criticism for his increasingly controversial public behavior and expansive commitments across multiple ventures. Investors have occasionally raised concerns about governance and leadership depth within the company.

Despite the swirling rumors, Tesla remains steadfast in its support for Musk. In 2023, shareholders overwhelmingly reaffirmed his leadership following a legal challenge to his historic compensation package, which was initially valued at $56 billion. Musk continues to serve as both CEO and lead product architect, overseeing Tesla’s push into new markets such as AI-powered robotics and full self-driving software.

While neither the board nor Elon Musk has publicly addressed future succession plans in detail, the latest statement from Tesla leadership seeks to reinforce internal stability and quash speculation that the company is preparing for a leadership transition anytime soon.