President of Tesla Trucking steps down ahead of expected electric semi launch

A long time Tesla executive and recently appointed President of the Tesla Heavy Trucking unit has left the company ahead of the expected electric semi release. 

Jerome Guillen started with Tesla as a Model S program director back in 2010, and oversaw Tesla’s entire vehicle business until he was appointed President of the Tesla Heavy Trucking unit in March of this year. Now, just three months after his new appointment, Guillen has left the company entirely, Reuters reported.

Demand is no problem, but near-term cell supply makes it hard to scale Semi. This limitation will be less onerous next year.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 30, 2021

“[Guillen’s departure is] negative given Guillen previously viewed as central to Tesla,” said industry analyst, Dan Levy. “[Guillen was] arguably key in stabilizing auto biz [sic] post Model 3 launch.”

Although no official word has been given regarding a further postponement of the electric Tesla semi truck deliveries, battery cell supply constraints may force the company to again push back the release date – this time to 2022. This would not be the first time the release of the Tesla electric semi truck has been pushed back – In 2017, Musk predicted the rig would be ready by 2019.