Daniel Ho, a prominent figure in Tesla’s vehicle development, has taken a new role at Alphabet’s self-driving car company, Waymo. Ho, formerly Tesla’s head of vehicle programs and new product introduction, announced his move to Waymo on LinkedIn. During his time at Tesla, Ho reported directly to CEO Elon Musk, playing a key role in the launch and scaling of several crucial vehicles, including the Model Y and Cybertruck. He also oversaw the opening of new Tesla factories in Berlin and Texas, contributing to the company’s impressive growth in production from 500,000 to 1.85 million cars per year.
Ho’s departure comes at a time when Tesla has seen a significant number of employees leaving the company, particularly in the wake of layoffs announced in April. This trend reflects the ongoing talent shuffle in the automotive industry, with several key figures transitioning to rival companies. Notably, Jonathan Galvez, Tesla’s former Engineering Technician for its Semi vehicles, recently joined Zoox, while Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s former head of supercharging, has taken on the role of Global Head of Sustainability at Uber Technologies.
Further adding to the exodus, Bloomberg reported last week that Nagesh Saldi, Tesla’s Chief Information Officer, is leaving the company ahead of its highly anticipated Robotaxi unveiling event scheduled for October 10. Saldi, who also reported directly to Musk, is leaving amidst a period of intense focus on Tesla’s autonomous driving ambitions. Ho’s move to Waymo, along with the recent departures from Tesla, highlights the competitive landscape in the electric vehicle and autonomous driving sectors. It will be interesting to observe how these industry shifts shape the future of mobility.
