Tesla Co-Founder Martin Eberhard Now Working at VW of America's R&D Center
By John O'Dell January 18, 2010
By John O'Dell, Senior Editor
His ouster from the electric vehicle company he helped start apparently didn't hurt Martin Eberhard's chances - the co-founder of EV-maker Tesla Motors is now working for Volkswagen of America, a company spokesman confirmed to Green Car Advisor this afternoon.
Eberhard (right), who famously and very publicly was fired from Tesla in a management style dispute with the company's major financial backer and current CEO, Elon Musk, hired on with VW this summer, said spokesman Steve Keyes.
He is working at VW of America's California-based research and development lab in Palo Alto - virtually next door to Tesla, which is moving its HQ to Palo Alto from nearby San Carlos this year.
VW did't announce Eberhard's hiring and the first word that he might have signed on with the company came late last week in an unconfirmed report from Greentech Media.
Keyes said he wasn't sure of Eberhard's title but that the former computer and e-book developer, who put his management and electric engineering skills to work in helping to develop the Tesla electric roadster, is working on various projects for VW including the company's ongoing electric vehicle program.
No word on whether he also is working for VW's luxury-performance unit, Audi, but we'd guess he is. Both companies have EVs in the works, including an electric sports car form Audi - based on the E-tron concept being shown around - and the E-Up! city EV from Volkswagen.
Eberhard, who is considered to be a premier idea generator, was blasted by Musk for poor management skills that resulted in cost overruns and other implementation problems at Tesla.
It's interesting, though, that he signed on with VW as Eberhard is an avid electric car booster and VW's top execs seem conflicted.
They make no bones about preferring diesel as VW's main fuel economy play but allow as how the company has to have electric vehicles to help comply with the tough new federal CAFE standards that require a 35.5 miles-per-gallon fuel economy average for passenger car fleets in the U.S. by 2016.
Perhaps at VW, which has lots of cash and layers of management, Eberhard will get the environment he needs to push his ideas about fuel-efficient, zero emissions cars to fruition.
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