Tesla's German Automation Expert Klaus Grohmann Ousted After Clash With CEO Musk (reuters.com)

According to Reuters, "Tesla executive Klaus Grohmann was ousted last month after a clash with CEO Elon Musk over the strategy of Grohmann's firm, which Tesla had acquired in November." Grohmann Engineer's automation and engineering expertise is being relied upon by Tesla to help it increase production to 500,000 cars per year by 2018. From the report: Tesla planned to keep Grohmann on, and Grohmann wanted to stay, but the clash with Musk over how to treat existing clients resulted in his departure, the source said. Grohmann disagreed with Musk's demands to focus management attention on Tesla projects to the detriment of Grohmann Engineering's legacy clients, which included Tesla's direct German-based rivals Daimler and BMW, two sources familiar with the matter said. "I definitely did not depart because I had lost interest in working," Grohmann said, without elaborating. A Tesla spokesman, asked about Grohmann's departure, praised him for building an "incredible company" and said: "Part of Mr Grohmann's decision to work with Tesla was to prepare for his retirement and leave the company in capable hands for the future. Given the change in focus to Tesla projects, we mutually decided that it was the right time for the next generation of management to lead."

Comments

Clash With Musk

[Anonymous Coward]

Grohmann: "Zis ist not an autopilot."
Musk: "Yeah, but I need a stupid name for everything. Gigafactory, Hyperloop, Autopilot. Who cares if they're accurate, the press love them."
Grohmann: "Ja, but calling zis an autopilot ist dangerous!"
Musk: "Hey, the press say I'm Tony fucking Stark! If I call it an autopilot, it's an autopilot!"
Grohmann: "Ja, but..."
Musk: "Harald fucking Krüger is a fucking pussy! I'm going to fucking kill BMW!" *throws chair*
Grohmann: "Gott im Himmel! Elon Musk ist Steve Ballmer in a disguise!"
Ballmer: "You're fired! You tell anyone about this and I'll kill you!"

So yes, Grohmann was fired because he found out Musk is actually Ballmer, but sadly the LSD is wearing off so I'll call it a day there.