Alleged Tesla Saboteur Says He's Actually a Whistleblower
Earlier this week, Tesla sent out an internal email indicating it had fired an employee for leaking sensitive information and making code changes to its manufacturing operating system.
Tesla claimed the employee conducted this so-called sabotage as he didn’t receive the promotion he was hoping for, but the story doesn’t end there.
The employee, Martin Tripp, has now hit back at Tesla, saying he’s actually a whistleblower who was looking to warn investors over shady practices that have allegedly occurred at the American electric vehicle maker. The Washington Post talked to Tripp, who explained that he leaked information to the press in an effort to expose Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. He also denied hacking into its operating system, saying he doesn’t have the “patience” for coding.
Tripp, who worked as a technician at Tesla’s Gigfactory, alleges Tesla installed punctured battery packs in Model 3 vehicles and lied to investors over how many Model 3 vehicles it had actually produced. The 40-year old also says the company has participated in unsustainable practices related to waste disposal.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk: Tesla Employee Carried Out ‘Extensive and Damaging Sabotage’
Tesla filed a lawsuit against Tripp Wednesday seeking damages, although it’s not clear how much money the automaker is looking to receive in the suit. The automaker’s lawyers said the company had experienced “cruel and unjust hardship” as a result of Tripp’s actions, along with “lost business, lost profits and damage to its goodwill.”
Tripp said he was initially supportive of Tesla and its endeavors, but became disillusioned with its efforts after working for the company.
“I looked up to Elon, I looked up to Tesla,” he was quoted in saying by The Post. “I was always drooling about the Teslas and wanting to buy one. And I was living the mission: to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
“I wanted to leave the world better for my son. And I felt I was doing everything but that,” he added.
Tesla denied to provide a comment for The Post’s report. We’ll keep you updated on this story with additional information as soon as it becomes available.
[Source: The Washington Post]
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Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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In either case this guy is guilty of violating Federal Computer Crime statutes. He accessed parts of Tesla's systems he wasn't authorized to access.