CATL, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has been making waves in the industry with its latest move into producing EV platforms and solid-state batteries. In an interview, CATL founder Robin Zeng made some bold comments about his dealings with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. According to Zeng, he had a heated debate with Musk over the viability of Tesla’s 4680 battery technology, which CATL claims will “never be successful.”
Zeng reportedly showed Musk the flaws in the battery design and left him speechless. The CATL founder also stated that Musk doesn’t understand basic electrochemistry principles, despite his expertise in other areas such as chips, software, and hardware.
Musk’s recent comments on Tesla’s battery technology have been criticized by some as overly optimistic. With over half of Tesla’s vehicle production taking place in China, and the company relying heavily on Chinese sales, Musk’s reputation is under scrutiny.
The comments from Zeng have sparked a heated debate about Musk’s leadership style and his approach to setting targets with his staff and the public. While some might view Zeng’s comments as petty, they highlight the challenges Musk faces as he navigates complex relationships with key suppliers and partners.
As the cleantech industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this development plays out.
Source: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/11/13/catl-founder-burns-elon-musk