Tesla CEO Elon Musk Is Gonna Elon Musk — Even During A Global Pandemic.
“Imagine that you’re standing on the shore and you’re watching the tsunami come in, if you are going to just stand there, and watch the tsunami, you are finished. If you can run as fast as you can, you have a better chance.”
I strongly feel — that this is the attitude one needs to adapt to when it comes to the coronavirus. Leaders of various economies have done their best to help their countries, as well as their companies, deal with this crisis. There is still tremendous uncertainty on what exactly needs to be done to stop the virus. Several key aspects of the virus are still unknown and hotly debated and are likely to remain so for a considerable amount of time.
How did Tesla React to the Coronavirus?
Elon Musk(CEO and Chairman, Tesla) — is known for his unapologetic and ignorant behavior. His problematic tweets — have prompted controversy for quite some time, according to me his reaction to the coronavirus crisis was no different.
Musk thinks panic is the real enemy
Elon Musk sent a memo to his employees earlier this month, underplaying the dangers of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, which is now considered a pandemic, according to a report from BuzzFeed News.
I was flabbergasted! How can a leader of his stature be so unaware?!
Musk’s statements regarding COVID-19 came at a time when the auto industry, like many other sectors of the US economy, had begun restricting operations to help reduce the spread of the virus. Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler had all started instructing non-factory employees in the US to work from home, and automakers were considering the possibility of factory shutdowns in the future as the virus continues to spread and supply chain disruptions further complicate vehicle production.
Tesla will make ventilators, Musks talks to Bill de Blasio about it; Tesla finally says it will suspend production
Only on March 19 did Tesla announce it would temporarily suspend production in its Fremont, California, factory on March 23. A little too late in the game — in my opinion. And now, he’s decided to try to pitch in on the response efforts, maybe to do some damage control I’d think…. once again harming the authenticity and position of the brand
However, I do feel that Musk has come quite a long way from the panic is “dumb” tweet and has taken some important steps to try to use his power for good. He acquired 1,000 ventilators from China and delivered them to Los Angeles, an effort California Gov. Gavin Newsom described as “heroic.” He has also said that Tesla’s factory in Buffalo, New York, will reopen to produce ventilators “as soon as humanly possible” and promised to do “anything in our power to help the citizens of New York.” And has 1200 ventilators to deliver this week!
How has all of this affected Tesla as a brand?
I feel Tesla’s response seemed to contradict founder Elon Musk’s mission, who in 2019 said that what drives him is the “fundamental goodness of Tesla”. According to me, this was a dangerous action that could leave the brand looking uncaring. However, by taking a complete U-turn on its response — and having its CEO Elon Musk supply ventilators to New York, the brand was left in a better spot.
Yes! The brand’s authenticity and image have been affected by this. Don’t you agree?
Digitally as the brand is not extremely active, they have not taken measures to monitor and control the situation. However, the CEO and Chairman, Elon Musk has had a drastic change in his approach to the global pandemic on his digital front. In my opinion — it does shake your faith in the “leader” and brand.
My Verdict — Like it or not, what Elon Musk says kind of matters
If Tesla winds up making ventilators, it will most certainly be a good thing, and getting ventilators to California is huge! As to some of his other comments and statements that go against CDC recommendations, maybe ignore them?
But I feel that beyond any real effort, he makes to pitch in on the crisis — and what Musk says about the coronavirus matters, in a similar way to what the president says or what some personality on Fox News says about the pandemic. He has 32 million Twitter followers, and there’s a sort of “cult of Elon Musk” around him, meaning people listen to him.
Yes — Musk, like all of us, gets to do the coronavirus his way, but his choices matter more.
