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You are here: MacNN Forums > News > Mac News > Elon Musk calls Apple the 'Tesla Graveyard' for former employees

Elon Musk calls Apple the 'Tesla Graveyard' for former employees
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NewsPoster
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Oct 9, 2015, 02:53 PM
 
The head of Tesla, CEO Elon Musk, has attacked Apple for poaching its designers and engineers, suggesting the employees that change sides between companies are Tesla rejects. In an interview with a German newspaper, Musk boasted "They have hired people we've fired," claimed the car manufacturer internally called Apple the "Tesla Graveyard," and that "If you don't make it at Tesla, you go work at Apple. I'm not kidding."

Speaking to Handelsblatt, Musk welcomed the idea of Apple making a car, but doubted it would be any real competition to Tesla. "Did you ever take a look at the Apple Watch?" Musk said before laughing at the joke. "No, seriously: It's good that Apple is moving and investing in this direction. But cars are very complex compared to phones or smartwatches. You can't just go to a supplier like Foxconn and say: Build me a car."



One last attack had Musk claiming Apple's recent announcements were not innovative. "For Apple, the car is the next logical thing to finally offer a significant innovation. A new pencil or a bigger iPad alone were not relevant enough."

In February, the poaching war saw over 150 former Apple employees being acquired by Tesla, with Musk reportedly being the main draw to the recruits. At the time, Musk suggested Apple was trying hard to pull employees away from Tesla, claiming Apple to have offered hiring bonuses as high as $250,000 and salary increases of up to 60 percent.
( Last edited by NewsPoster; Oct 9, 2015 at 02:54 PM. )
     
climacs
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Oct 9, 2015, 03:00 PM
 
I'd be scared too if a company with pockets as deep as Apple's are, was gutting my company of key employees and looking to enter my market.
     
iphonerulez
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Oct 9, 2015, 03:23 PM
 
I wonder if Musk is really scared. I doubt Apple is trying to take Tesla's market share away. I'm sure Tesla is already threatened by traditional car companies who would do that. Apple's product would probably be years away before being sold to the general public. I see absolutely no reason Musk should be making such statements about Apple. Employee poaching is a rather common thing in all industries. He's not just belittling a company but also those employees who are looking for different jobs.
     
Stuke
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Oct 9, 2015, 03:55 PM
 
Think "pissed off" at the secret, floated offers Apple has probably suggested for buying Tesla. "I'm worth more." No counteroffers, so...let the slinging begin.
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Charles Martin
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Oct 9, 2015, 04:03 PM
 
"We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone," Palm CEO Ed Colligan said. "PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in."

It's just a little bit of history repeating ...
Charles Martin
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pairof9s
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Oct 9, 2015, 04:54 PM
 
I'm sorry...whose Tesla again?

So after 12+ years, lots of hype, hundreds of millions of venture capital, and still nascent market share, this is the guy offering the advice "You can't just go to a supplier like Foxconn and say: Build me a car." It appears more like poor leadership than sound advice.
     
Steve Wilkinson
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Oct 9, 2015, 05:13 PM
 
Bingo Charles!
------
Steve Wilkinson
Web designer | Christian apologist
cgWerks | TilledSoil.org
     
drbroom
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Oct 9, 2015, 06:11 PM
 
Personally I bet Musk is correct! with what current stands for quality at Apple all the bast people there have left or are leaving.

Apple current standard of hardware and software is the old M$ adage: "if it compiles we ship it... fix the bug after." 'Lets not worry if its carp; were Apple, we can sell carp to the toilette.'

db (used to bleed in 6 colors... now crying in them)
Claris the DogCow say MOOF
     
MacScientist
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Oct 9, 2015, 08:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by iphonerulez View Post
I wonder if Musk is really scared. I doubt Apple is trying to take Tesla's market share away. I'm sure Tesla is already threatened by traditional car companies who would do that. Apple's product would probably be years away before being sold to the general public. I see absolutely no reason Musk should be making such statements about Apple. Employee poaching is a rather common thing in all industries. He's not just belittling a company but also those employees who are looking for different jobs.
Au contraire. Apple may only see Tesla as a source of expertise and not a competitor or target for Tesla to be legitimately concerned. In fact, it is unlikely that Apple has targeted Tesla because any resulting product would setup Apple for major lawsuits. Tesla's concerns are that it needs engineers to update its current products and to develop new products. If Apple has hired them away, then Tesla does not have the use of many of its expert engineers. Replacing its lost employees costs both money and time.
     
   
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