Former Stellantis CEO says he's not sure Tesla will still exist in 10 years

Amid the influx of Chinese EV rivals and the many sister products in the works like SpaceX, the Former Stellantis CEO says he’s ‘not sure’ that Tesla will still exist in 10 years.

Tesla has been the leader in the EV space for the better part of a decade.

The Model 3, S, X, and Y have all played their part in the company being America’s best-selling electric brand, sparking an entire shift in infrastructure.

But seeing how much has changed in the last decade, does the next 10 years spell the end for Tesla? Well, the former Stellantis CEO believes so.

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Former Stellantis CEO backs Chinese rivals and Musk’s fragmented focus to make Tesla extinct

Stellantis has taken a very different approach to the EV industry than Tesla, for instance, it’s shelving its plans for autonomous vehicles.

And it’s been flip-flopping over new hydrogen cars.

But while Tesla stands strong now, former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has put a clock on the brand’s lifespan, saying:

“I’m not sure that Tesla will still exist in 10 years.”

Citing that Elon Musk appears to be shifting his focus heavily in the way of SpaceX and Neurolink, Tavares claimed that the introduction of the Chinese market might be enough for the brand to be swept away.

“We can’t rule out that at some point, he’ll decide to leave the automotive industry to refocus on humanoid robots, SpaceX, or artificial intelligence,” he said, in an interview with Automotive News.

“Tesla’s stock market loss will be colossal because this valuation is simply stratospheric. I’m not sure that Tesla will still exist in 10 years,” he added.

“It’s an innovative group, but they will be beaten by BYD’s efficiency.”

How real is the Chinese EV threat?

So far, tariffs on Chinese EV imports have meant that America has been impregnable for brands like BYD and Xiaomi.

But automotive executives across the country believe that the market will get cracked open, and the EV infrastructure will change drastically – despite Tesla’s recent efforts to make more affordable cars.

Having already been predicted to dominate the market in China, swallowing rival companies, these giant brands are predicted to take on Tesla bumper-to-bumper.

With Europe as a case study, it’s apparent that the cars are worth the hype.

Still, the EV maker appears to have an ace up its sleeve: supercars.

The elusive Roadster 2.0 is planned to be demonstrated in the next two months, and could mark a significant change in direction for the brand, switching to electric supercars instead.

It looks like the Cyber fleet is gearing up for expansion, too.

The company is reportedly producing more of these futuristic, armored vehicles in a bid to diversify its range and find a new niche before the Chinese wave comes crashing down.

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