Former Tesla VP, Colin Campbell joins Redwood Materials
Not a Tesla App
In a world often overshadowed by the larger-than-life presence of CEO Elon Musk, Tesla's success has been cultivated by an incredibly talented team of engineers, visionaries, and leaders. One of these key players, Colin Campbell, has announced his departure from the company after a remarkable 17-year tenure.
A Remarkable Journey
Starting with Tesla in 2006, Campbell rose from Traction Inverter Electrical Engineer to Vice President of Powertrain Engineering. His impactful journey is a testament to Tesla's emphasis on innovation and dedication, which has led the company from a small startup with an ambitious dream to a global leader in electric vehicles.
Perhaps best remembered for his announcement during Tesla's Investor Day in March that the next-generation powertrain would use zero rare earths (video below), Campbell's revelation sent ripples through the industry. His comments led to a plunge in the stocks of rare earth miners from China, signaling Tesla's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.
More Than Musk
Campbell's departure comes just two weeks after Tesla's CFO, Zach Kirkhorn, stepped down, emphasizing the importance of the entire team at Tesla. The company's growth and success isn't solely the product of Musk's vision; it results from dedicated professionals like Campbell and Kirkhorn, who embody Tesla's mission and values.
Colin Campbell's move to Redwood Materials, a company focusing on recycling lithium-ion batteries and creating a circular supply chain for electric vehicles, is less of a farewell and more of a continuation of a shared mission. Redwood was founded by JB Straubel, Tesla's co-founder and former CTO, who also recently returned to Tesla's Board of Directors, a connection that strengthens the bond between the two companies.
In a heartfelt post on LinkedIn, Campbell expressed his joy and privilege in working at Tesla and his fulfillment in making a global impact across many industries. Joining Redwood as Chief Technology Officer, he will still be focused on electrification, further enriching the collaborative environment between Tesla and Redwood.
Legacy and Future Collaboration
The continuous talent migration within the electric vehicle ecosystem reaffirms Tesla's far-reaching influence. While losing a seasoned executive might seem concerning, it is also an opportunity to recognize the company's depth and breadth of expertise. Tesla is not just about Elon Musk; it's about a collective effort, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of a sustainable future.
Campbell's time at Tesla may have ended, but his influence, legacy, and connection to the Tesla family continue. His move to Redwood Materials is more than a career transition; it's a strategic alignment that might hint at exciting collaborations shortly. In a constantly evolving industry, the community of pioneers like Campbell ensures that the drive toward clean energy remains unstoppable.
Campbell's journey from a budding engineer to a change-making executive exemplifies this spirit, reminding us that Tesla's magic results from many hands, hearts, and minds. His departure is a new beginning, not an end, and we look forward to seeing his continued impact on clean energy and electrification.
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It has been a long wait for FSD for European customers, many of whom paid for the feature years ago on now legacy hardware. While the FSD transfer program has come and gone multiple times, there’s something to be said about having it available in North America, where it can be used, and in Europe or other countries, where it still just remains the same as Enhanced Autopilot (differences between Autopilot, EAP, and FSD).
FSD Transfer is a nice goodwill gesture from Tesla that in theory doesn’t cost them anything. Instead, it keeps customers, especially those who have been waiting for years, loyal and happy. It also incentivizes them to upgrade to a newer Tesla with HW4, where FSD will hopefully be achieved.
In a reply to a post on X, Elon agreed with the suggestion that offering FSD transfers in Europe would be a fair solution for those who have already purchased FSD but can’t use its capabilities.
FSD Transfer directly addresses a growing concern for many long-term European Tesla owners. Thousands of customers purchased the full package, often many years ago, with the expectation that FSD would eventually be capable and approved for use. However, the reality is that FSD, even as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), continues to be pushed back in Europe.
Without the transfer program, it's a difficult choice: either throw away your original investment in FSD and pay for the package a second time (FSD price history), or subscribe to it in the future.
Offering FSD transfers is a good way for Tesla to meet them halfway. It's a difficult situation, and one that’s being hindered by processes beyond the control of both the customer and Tesla. However, a transfer helps both parties. Tesla sells another vehicle, and the customer gets to keep FSD.
When Will it Be Available?
Based on how FSD transfers have worked in the past following Elon’s announcements, this feature is likely to become available for a limited time period in the coming days or weeks. If it happens, we should expect an announcement from Tesla Europe on X and emails being sent out to Tesla customers.
Once the program is in place, all you need to do is complete your vehicle purchase and then inform your Tesla sales advisor that you’d like to transfer FSD. You don’t even have to sell or trade in your old Tesla; FSD will simply be removed from it as a feature.
Hopefully, Tesla enables FSD Transfers for everyone, regardless of region. It should be an ongoing offer until at least FSD is approved in the given country or region.
The introductory price for Tesla’s Robotaxi Network has finally been updated. In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that the new fare would be rolling out to complement the new Robotaxi geofence expansion.
This change marks the first adjustment to Tesla’s fares since the initial $4.20 launch price 23 days ago. While the price increase may seem significant in terms of percentages, when compared to other options in the ride-hailing area, it is still drastically cheaper.
But the price is now a princely $6.90, as foretold in the prophecy 😂
Robotaxi currently operates on a simple, flat-rate model. The new $6.90 fare gets you a ride to anywhere within the recently expanded geofence.
So far, this is the opposite approach compared to other services, such as Waymo or traditional ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft. All these services use dynamic pricing based on distance, time of day, and demand. A comparable trip on any one of these services could cost anywhere from $30 to $65, and potentially even higher during peak hours.
That doesn’t even include the tip fees for human drivers either - another win for Robotaxi (can you tip a Robotaxi?).
Even with the adjustment, the flat $6.90 fare remains less than half the price of a typical competing ride, making Robotaxi the most affordable point-to-point transportation option in Austin, aside from mass transit, for now.
A “Maturing” Service
The price change, moving from one meme-worthy number to another, is a sign that Robotaxi is finally graduating from its initial pilot phase. Following the first major expansion of the service area, this adjustment is a logical next step towards finding a more sustainable flat price.
While the new fare is a 65% increase over the old fare, the key takeaway is that it is still far cheaper than other options, and still just as meme-worthy. Tesla is aiming to have its early access riders complete as many rides as possible during these early months, and this pricing is still very reflective of that.
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