Five People Who Could Run Tesla Better Than Elon Musk

Forbes - Mar 21st, 2025
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Elon Musk, currently juggling six companies, including Tesla, faces scrutiny over his ability to manage them all effectively, given his limited time and focus. Tesla, a publicly traded EV maker valued at $770 billion, heavily relies on Musk's leadership and vision, causing concerns about the company's future should he step back. The absence of a clear successor at Tesla, a company where Musk has been the dominant force for 17 years, adds to investor anxiety, especially as the company faces challenges like falling sales, competition from Chinese EV makers, and lagging in the robotaxi sector.

Potential candidates to succeed Musk include JB Straubel, Tom Zhu, Stella Li, John Krafcik, and José Muñoz, each bringing unique qualifications to the table. Straubel, a Tesla cofounder, and Zhu, Tesla's top executive in China, are seen as top internal candidates, while Li, Krafcik, and Muñoz represent strong external options. However, Musk's significant influence as a major shareholder and board member could deter potential successors. Analysts argue that Tesla would benefit from a competent new leader, but Musk's ego and the board's inaction pose challenges to such a transition.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and engaging exploration of Tesla's leadership dynamics, focusing on the potential impact of Elon Musk's departure and the viability of various successors. It effectively highlights the challenges Tesla faces in the competitive EV market and Musk's significant influence over the company. However, the article's accuracy is somewhat undermined by speculative claims and a lack of direct sources. While it offers a balanced view of Musk's leadership, it could benefit from a wider range of perspectives and greater transparency in its claims. Overall, the piece is informative and relevant, though its speculative nature limits its potential impact on serious decision-making.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents a mix of verified and unverifiable claims. It accurately describes Elon Musk's involvement with multiple companies and his significant influence over Tesla, as supported by SEC disclosures. However, the claim about Musk's role in President Trump's efforts to downsize the federal government lacks clear evidence and requires verification. The article correctly identifies potential successors for Musk at Tesla but assumes their interest without direct confirmation. It also accurately notes Tesla's market challenges, though it could provide more precise data on competitors' standings.

7
Balance

The article attempts to provide a balanced view by discussing both the strengths and weaknesses of Elon Musk's leadership at Tesla. It acknowledges Musk's significant influence and the potential impact of his departure, while also exploring alternative leadership options. However, the piece could benefit from more perspectives, particularly from those who might support Musk's continued leadership or offer differing views on Tesla's strategic direction. The focus on Musk's potential successors is well-rounded but might be perceived as biased against Musk's current role.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the discussion of Musk's leadership and potential successors. It uses accessible language and provides sufficient background on the individuals mentioned. However, the inclusion of speculative elements, such as the potential impact of Musk's departure, could be more clearly delineated from factual reporting. Overall, the article effectively communicates its main points to the reader.

5
Source quality

The article relies on a mix of direct quotes from industry analysts and general observations. While it cites Dan Ives, a known Tesla analyst, it lacks a broader range of authoritative sources or direct statements from Tesla or Musk himself. The inclusion of opinions from wealth management CEOs adds some credibility, but the overall source variety is limited. The absence of direct responses from the potential successors mentioned weakens the reliability of the claims about their interest in the CEO role.

6
Transparency

The article provides some context for its claims, such as Tesla's market position and Musk's influence, but lacks detailed explanations of how these conclusions were reached. It doesn't disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and while it offers insights into the potential successors' backgrounds, it doesn't clarify the methodology for selecting these candidates. Greater transparency about the basis for certain claims, such as Musk's involvement in government efforts, would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://investorplace.com/hypergrowthinvesting/2025/03/top-stocks-to-buy-under-trump-elon-musks-brain/
  2. https://www.cbsnews.com/tag/delaware/
  3. https://www.bankrate.com/investing/elon-musk/
  4. https://fortune.com/2025/03/14/elon-musk-private-company-valuations-soar-tesla-stock-falls/