A Tesla whistleblower alleges Elon Musk attempted to deport her team after they reported a major safety concern within the company.
A former Tesla engineer, Cristina Balan, has come forward with serious allegations against Elon Musk.
She claims that after raising a major safety issue regarding the brakes on the Model S, her entire team was threatened with deportation.
This revelation comes amid ongoing legal disputes involving Musk and Tesla.
Cristina Balan raised safety concerns at Tesla.
Cristina Balan worked at Tesla and was involved in the development of the Model S.
In 2014, she identified a potential safety risk related to the vehicle’s brake system.
Balan felt it was her responsibility to inform Musk directly about this issue.
In 2013, Musk had sent an email to all employees encouraging them to speak up about any concerns.
He assured them that they should feel free to communicate without needing permission from anyone else.
However, when Balan reached out to Musk, she claims the response was not what she expected.
During a meeting with him, she was reportedly accompanied by a lawyer rather than receiving the support she needed.
Tesla whistleblower accuses Musk of demanding deportation of her team after they raised major safety issue
Balan alleges that Tesla officials told her she must resign from her job.
In addition, she claims that the company’s lawyers threatened to deport her team members if she did not comply.
Feeling pressured, Balan signed her resignation letter, stating that she was leaving because she had dared to speak up.
She expressed that others who had the opportunity to voice their concerns were also threatened.
“I’m resigning for the position that I was put in a month ago bc I dare to speak up to the Sr management, also bc people that had the chance to speak up were threatened…”
After leaving Tesla, Balan’s situation gained media attention,
The Huffington Post published a story about her experiences, prompting a response from Tesla.
A spokesperson for the company accused Balan of engaging in criminal activities, claiming she secretly recorded meetings with her supervisors.
However, Balan has refuted these claims, labeling them as defamatory because the spokesperson did not provide any evidence to support the allegations.
Cristina Balan faces legal challenges in arbitration.
Due to the nature of her employment agreement, Balan found herself in a complicated legal situation.
Tesla’s contracts require employees to agree to arbitration as the only method for resolving disputes.
Arbitration involves a neutral third party hearing both sides and making a decision, which means that Balan’s case would not go to open court.
Initially, Balan’s defamation claim was dismissed, and her case was pushed into arbitration. Despite this setback, she did not give up.
Recently, on April 14, it was announced that she had succeeded in getting the arbitration ruling thrown out.
This development allows her the chance to present her case in open court.
Balan accuses Musk of being vindictive and harmful.
In various interviews, Balan has expressed her desire to hold Musk accountable.
She referred to him as “pure evil,” claiming that he takes pleasure in harming others.
She believes that his actions have forced people to give up their right to free speech and their ability to take legal action against the company.
During an interview with The Times UK, Balan stated that she looks forward to proving how vindictive Musk can be.
She hopes to bring her story to light and clear her name in the process.
In another interview with the BBC, she expressed a wish that Musk would have the decency to apologize for his actions.