Forgotten Tesla founder shares the one thing he'd change at the company if he could go back
Published on Jul 28, 2025 at 6:24 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 28, 2025 at 9:17 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Forgotten Tesla founder Martin Eberhard revealed the one thing he’d change about the company if he could.
Actually, two things.
Eberhard believes that Tesla got most things right.
But there are a couple of things he would change if he were back in the hot seat.
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This is what Tesla founder Martin Eberhard would do today
In an interview with Kim Java that was published on YouTube, Tesla founder Martin Eberhard talked about a lot of stuff.
He opened up about his relationship with Elon Musk, how he had to sue Tesla to get his car back, and the things he wished he’d done differently.
Eberhard made it clear that, for the most part, Tesla made all the right decisions.
“There’s a ton of things I would differently. Hindsight is what it is. But I think in the big strokes, we got everything right,” Martin said.
However, he then touched on two things he’d have done differently.
“I would have probably done a different charging system, and would’ve liquid-cooled the motors.”
Interestingly, that’s exactly what happened later, because Tesla motors are now liquid-cooled, and Tesla has indeed changed its charging system through the years.
Tesla looked very different back then
Even though Elon Musk certainly deserves credit for turning Tesla into the world’s most valuable EV brand and automaker, he didn’t actually start the company.
Tesla was founded by Martin Eberhard and Mark Tarpenning in 2003 and, a year later, Elon Musk came into the picture, first as an investor, then as the chairman and CEO.
In 2008, the company launched its first car, a rudimental roadster based on the Lotus Elise but powered by batteries.
Eberhard still owns a Tesla Roadster – he actually owns the very first Roadster ever built – but Musk doesn’t.
He famously sent his into space – because of course he did.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
