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1/ Do you guys remember the days of "burst production capacity"? It seems as if Elon would have some of the parts built/assembled in a buffer, so that he could claim high "burst production capacity".
From Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 4
(Here I'm posting misc items.)
From Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 4
(Here I'm posting misc items.)
2/ Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 6.
A senior Tesla engineer says they need to rework parts from non-conforming materials to meet production targets. Depending on your view, this could either be considered dangerous or a judicious way to recycle waste.
A senior Tesla engineer says they need to rework parts from non-conforming materials to meet production targets. Depending on your view, this could either be considered dangerous or a judicious way to recycle waste.
3/ Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 30.
Dear @Tesla employees and @elonmusk, you can't just state "off the record" and assume your email is off the record. You have to wait for an approval from the journalist first.
Dear @Tesla employees and @elonmusk, you can't just state "off the record" and assume your email is off the record. You have to wait for an approval from the journalist first.
4/ Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 34
Here Tripp sends pictures of scrap material being stored in the desert. (I'll post them when I find them.) $TSLA had previously claimed that scrap material was being stored in temperature controlled rooms, which is the "lie" being referred
Here Tripp sends pictures of scrap material being stored in the desert. (I'll post them when I find them.) $TSLA had previously claimed that scrap material was being stored in temperature controlled rooms, which is the "lie" being referred
5/ Tripp Deposition, Tripp Exhibit 50
This isn't related to anything but I just thought it was funny.
The Tesla Anti-Handbook Handbook tells employees to talk to someone/anyone "until the right thing happens".
My boi Zach is like.. "Ok let me talk to the SEC then..."
This isn't related to anything but I just thought it was funny.
The Tesla Anti-Handbook Handbook tells employees to talk to someone/anyone "until the right thing happens".
My boi Zach is like.. "Ok let me talk to the SEC then..."
6/ Tripp Deposition, 2019-09-04 M. Tripp Depo Transcript.pdf
Page 35
You can see why this has been an incredibly frustrating experience for Martin Tripp. He can't find employment and the shadow of Elon Musk's and Tesla's defamations follow him.
Whistleblowers, please stay anon
Page 35
You can see why this has been an incredibly frustrating experience for Martin Tripp. He can't find employment and the shadow of Elon Musk's and Tesla's defamations follow him.
Whistleblowers, please stay anon
7/ Tripp Deposition, 2019-09-04 M. Tripp Depo Transcript.pdf, page 42
A major part of these depositions is just lawyers trying to upset the witness in some way. This much is very clear.
This is why I'm looking forward to @montana_skeptic's cross examination of @elonmusk .
A major part of these depositions is just lawyers trying to upset the witness in some way. This much is very clear.
This is why I'm looking forward to @montana_skeptic's cross examination of @elonmusk .
8/ Tripp Deposition, 2019-09-04 M. Tripp Depo Transcript.pdf, pages 57-58
If $TSLA is lying about its accounting regarding how much waste there is or whether useless scrap is being identified as WIP, that's certainly a public concern.
So I disagree with Tripp here.
If $TSLA is lying about its accounting regarding how much waste there is or whether useless scrap is being identified as WIP, that's certainly a public concern.
So I disagree with Tripp here.
9/ Discovery, From Tesla, 19_TES-TRIPP_0010405.pdf
This time, my man Dave Arnold going off the record all by himself... <Banderas enjoying himself before computer.gif>
This time, my man Dave Arnold going off the record all by himself... <Banderas enjoying himself before computer.gif>
10/ LOL what is this? Might as well not have a PDF to say this.
11/ Discovery, TES-TRIPP_0010496.pdf
My man @cfarivar ... Sarah O'Brien apparently doesn't like you. I hope you can live with that...
My man @cfarivar ... Sarah O'Brien apparently doesn't like you. I hope you can live with that...
12/ Folks, the more juicy, more incriminating documents are not in the data dump. Anything that is marked 'Attorney Eyes Only' is not in the dump. An example:
13/ TES-TRIPP_0010620.pdf, page 5
The work goes on, boiz... I haven't found any 'smoking gun' evidence yet but some internal $TSLA emails are interesting.
This one talks about 'some extreme methods to rework puncture cases'. I wonder what those could be?
The work goes on, boiz... I haven't found any 'smoking gun' evidence yet but some internal $TSLA emails are interesting.
This one talks about 'some extreme methods to rework puncture cases'. I wonder what those could be?
14/ TES-TRIPP_0010620.pdf, pages 1-2
Somewhat confirming Tripp, this one shows that there is so much non-conforming material that they are running out of space and looking for additional space to move the junk to.
Somewhat confirming Tripp, this one shows that there is so much non-conforming material that they are running out of space and looking for additional space to move the junk to.
15/ TES-TRIPP_0010620.pdf page 4
This internal email says 'let us use the *dented* modules as buffer [e.g. pre-assembled part] to demonstrate 2.5k production capacity'. So at least, it indicates that they were aware that dented modules were problematic.
![15/ TES-TRIPP_0010620.pdf page 4This internal email says 'let us use the *dented* modules as buffer [e.g. pre-assembled part] to demonstrate 2.5k production capacity'. So at least, it indicates that they were aware that dented modules were problematic.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfSdN82XYAADoza.jpg "15/ TES-TRIPP_0010620.pdf page 4This internal email says 'let us use the *dented* modules as buffer [e.g. pre-assembled part] to demonstrate 2.5k production capacity'. So at least, it indicates that they were aware that dented modules were problematic.")
This internal email says 'let us use the *dented* modules as buffer [e.g. pre-assembled part] to demonstrate 2.5k production capacity'. So at least, it indicates that they were aware that dented modules were problematic.
16/ TES-TRIPP_0010628.pdf page 7
So this much is clear: there is so much waste and NCM that they are trying to rework some of those modules and test them. I'm unable to comment on how safe or dangerous this is.
So this much is clear: there is so much waste and NCM that they are trying to rework some of those modules and test them. I'm unable to comment on how safe or dangerous this is.
17/ TES-TRIPP_0010644.pdf page 1
More confirmation for Tripp. They have so much NCM now that they are asking whether it would be good to store it in trailers in parking spaces.
Again strengthening Tripp's case, someone asks "we are ok with *temperature implications*?"
More confirmation for Tripp. They have so much NCM now that they are asking whether it would be good to store it in trailers in parking spaces.
Again strengthening Tripp's case, someone asks "we are ok with *temperature implications*?"
18/ Mini Break/Comment:
To be fair, somebody really needs to depose these engineers/email authors to really get to the bottom of this.
The emails are suggestive of shady conduct but I can't pin down - blatantly criminal stuff wouldn't be on emails.
To be fair, somebody really needs to depose these engineers/email authors to really get to the bottom of this.
The emails are suggestive of shady conduct but I can't pin down - blatantly criminal stuff wouldn't be on emails.
19/ TES-TRIPP_0010666.pdf, page 1
Again confirming Tripp, there is so much waste/scrapped material that Tesla employees are looking for ways to recycle some of them. A technician asks if visual inspection is enough to release a NCM module back into the working pile:
Again confirming Tripp, there is so much waste/scrapped material that Tesla employees are looking for ways to recycle some of them. A technician asks if visual inspection is enough to release a NCM module back into the working pile:
20/ TES-TRIPP_0010686.pdf, page 1 and 3
Somebody in Fremont discovers "punctured cells in modules, installed in modules" and sends an email to Reno warning them.
So it's good to know that Fremont can notice when there are punctured cells in modules.
Somebody in Fremont discovers "punctured cells in modules, installed in modules" and sends an email to Reno warning them.
So it's good to know that Fremont can notice when there are punctured cells in modules.
21/ TES-TRIPP_0010706.pdf, page 1
Perhaps the most damning thing I have found so far. A $TSLA employee says there are suspect battery packs in the following modules:
Perhaps the most damning thing I have found so far. A $TSLA employee says there are suspect battery packs in the following modules:
22/ TES-TRIPP_0010706.pdf, pages 2-4
Okay maybe this is the most damning I have found so far. <<Description of Issue: Punctured Cells in Modules, installed into battery packs>>
Okay maybe this is the most damning I have found so far. <<Description of Issue: Punctured Cells in Modules, installed into battery packs>>
23/ TES-TRIPP_0010710.pdf, pages 1 - 2.
This shows that packs with punctured cells are (probably?) on the conveyor belt and if they are on the conveyor belt, they'll make it to a car.
This shows that packs with punctured cells are (probably?) on the conveyor belt and if they are on the conveyor belt, they'll make it to a car.
24/ TES-TRIPP_0010719.pdf, page 27
What bothers me also is that $TSLA doesn't seem to have a 'testing' culture. Everything seems so random and manual - errors are figured out by inspection. At least reading these docs, that's the impression I get. An example:
What bothers me also is that $TSLA doesn't seem to have a 'testing' culture. Everything seems so random and manual - errors are figured out by inspection. At least reading these docs, that's the impression I get. An example:
25/ TES-TRIPP_0010774.pdf, page 4-5
Continuing with my theme of how $TSLA lacks a testing culture, my man Sanjay says their NCM test (I think this is supposed to test reworked modules) doesn't work well and should be gotten rid of.
(I think we had run into a similar email.)
Continuing with my theme of how $TSLA lacks a testing culture, my man Sanjay says their NCM test (I think this is supposed to test reworked modules) doesn't work well and should be gotten rid of.
(I think we had run into a similar email.)
26/ TES-TRIPP_0010812.pdf, pages 1-2
$TSLA employee Liv Adams says that some punctured cells will definitely be in vehicles.
That's as close to a smoking gun as I could get.
Were those vehicles then sold? Were the packs replaced? TBD.
(We had had a version of this.)
$TSLA employee Liv Adams says that some punctured cells will definitely be in vehicles.
That's as close to a smoking gun as I could get.
Were those vehicles then sold? Were the packs replaced? TBD.
(We had had a version of this.)
27a/ Discovery/Initial RFP Discovery to Tesla/MC-10148848-9999 SB-18-16-010.pdf
So far we have been talking about how $TSLA was having issues dealing with punctured cells making into vehicles.
So far we have been talking about how $TSLA was having issues dealing with punctured cells making into vehicles.
27b/ It appears that because they weren't sure which vehicles got these battery modules with punctured cells, they decided to issue a technical/Tesla service bulletin (TSB), mandating the replacement of batteries of all vehicles built during certain days. See for yourself.
27c/ The report downplays the significance of the issue (not safety related) but it is extreme in other respects: it seems to target all vehicles and the entire battery.
Basically this seems like a stealth recall and the language used downplays the criticality.
Basically this seems like a stealth recall and the language used downplays the criticality.
27d/ I would like to know if there are alternative explanations but if it is really what I think it is, this is the most disgust I've felt for $TSLA and @elonmusk in a while.
People could have died in horrendous ways due to driving cars that combust due to punctured cells.
People could have died in horrendous ways due to driving cars that combust due to punctured cells.
28/
a/
Discovery/.../622.pptx
I think this is a powerpoint document tracking how a defective part was first contained, and then reworked(?), and then ultimately made it a Model 3 vehicle. I'll get the picture of the robot that actually did this as well...
a/
Discovery/.../622.pptx
I think this is a powerpoint document tracking how a defective part was first contained, and then reworked(?), and then ultimately made it a Model 3 vehicle. I'll get the picture of the robot that actually did this as well...
29/
a/ Discovery/ TES-TRIPP_0002257.pdf
I couldn't find the picture of the puncture-bot but while I was looking for it, I found something interesting.
I think this guy Adithya Vijayakumar says of the ~7345 modules in WIP, 905 modules need to scrapped "virtually".
a/ Discovery/ TES-TRIPP_0002257.pdf
I couldn't find the picture of the puncture-bot but while I was looking for it, I found something interesting.
I think this guy Adithya Vijayakumar says of the ~7345 modules in WIP, 905 modules need to scrapped "virtually".
29 b/ I interpret 'virtual' scrapping to mean that because some parts are physically non-functional, they also need to be accounted as such.
This guy, Mike, then responds, we need to account for not just the waste from this quarter but all the past quarters and tell the CFO.
This guy, Mike, then responds, we need to account for not just the waste from this quarter but all the past quarters and tell the CFO.
29 c/ This is where it gets funny. The previous guy Adithya then says, well we actually need to virtually scrap ~1718 modules as well. (Recall they currently have ~7345 in WIP.)
29d/ And then they get into a discussion about how much stuff they wasted in the month of May hahaha... Mike is a little incredulous and says something like you think we wasted that much stuff?
29e/ More than fraud, this strikes me as incompetence or lack of internal controls.
29f/ And also, perhaps the funniest part of this is that 975 modules that need to 'virtually' scrapped are just missing. They somehow got lost in the mountains of Reno. :-)
30/ Comment:
Folks this thread has been a little dishevelled - I see that I even posted duplicate items. Partly the reason is that the same email can appear under documents with different names.
But I'm getting a bit better at it. Perhaps, later I'll do a cleaner thread.
Folks this thread has been a little dishevelled - I see that I even posted duplicate items. Partly the reason is that the same email can appear under documents with different names.
But I'm getting a bit better at it. Perhaps, later I'll do a cleaner thread.
31/ As I said earlier, some of the moe damning documents are for AEO.
It seems as if some people felt pressure to lie about their numbers to keep Deepak happy.
It seems as if some people felt pressure to lie about their numbers to keep Deepak happy.
32/ TES-TRIPP_0003759.pdf
So the puncture bot mess up occurs in February-March of 2018. But in July 2018, it seems as if a few $TSLA engineers are still seeing incredible amounts of scrap.
So the puncture bot mess up occurs in February-March of 2018. But in July 2018, it seems as if a few $TSLA engineers are still seeing incredible amounts of scrap.
33/ TES-TRIPP_0004342.pdf
I just wanted to make something clear. $TSLA's response included the claim "no punctured cells have ever been used in any Model 3 vehicles in any way". This is false. Some punctured cells made it to cars. We don't know what happened to those cars.
I just wanted to make something clear. $TSLA's response included the claim "no punctured cells have ever been used in any Model 3 vehicles in any way". This is false. Some punctured cells made it to cars. We don't know what happened to those cars.
