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Musk responds to pay case lawyers requesting $6 billion in Tesla shares

Credit: Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Elon Musk has responded to lawyers in the recent Delaware case regarding his Tesla compensation package, after the attorneys this week requested legal awards of 29 million Tesla shares — worth almost $6 billion.

Musk’s pay package at Tesla was rejected in late January by Judge Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery, as part of a 2018 case brought forward by shareholder Richard Tornetta. Following the decision to void Musk’s $55.8 billion compensation package just over a month ago, Tornetta’s lawyers argued in a filing on Friday that they deserve over 29 million Tesla shares as their legal fees, worth around $5.95 billion at the company’s current valuation (via Bloomberg).

In the filing, the lawyers also explained why they requested the fee in Tesla stock instead of cash.

“We are prepared to ‘eat our cooking,’” Tornetta’s lawyers wrote. “This structure has the benefit of linking the award directly to the benefit created and avoids taking even one cent from the Tesla balance sheet to pay fees. It is also tax-deductible by Tesla.”

Tesla and Elon Musk to appeal $56B pay package decision

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Tornetta’s case was brought to the court on behalf of shareholders, so roughly 267 million Tesla shares that would have been a part of Musk’s pay package are now expected to be returned to the company, according to the filing.

Tulane University Corporate Law Professor Ann Lipton says the legal team’s payout could be the largest attorney fee ever requested, at least that she’s familiar with.

“Now, to be fair, the case involved the largest compensation award ever to an executive,” Lipton added to Bloomberg.

“I assume the plaintiffs’ attorneys figured if they sought $6 billion in cash in fees it could cripple Tesla,” she says. “Since the case involved a stock award to Musk, they thought it would be appropriate to ask for the fee in shares so it wouldn’t be as rough for Tesla shareholders. That makes a lot of sense to me.”

Following the filing, multiple Tesla executives responded, including Musk himself.

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In a flurry of posts on X on Saturday, Musk criticized the request, calling it “utterly disgraceful,” “ironic,” “criminal,” and saying that the the lawyers were “evil” in two separate replies. You can see just a couple of his posts below.

Rohan Patel, Tesla’s Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development, also responded to the reports, noting that he believed other employees at the company would be “equally disgusted” by the news.

After Judge McCormick’s decision to void Musk’s compensation package, made on January 30, the multi-company executive has motioned to move the incorporations of SpaceX, The Boring Company and Neuralink out of Delaware, and he’s expected to do the same with Tesla.

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Musk has also been outspoken since the decision, noting that Tesla plans to appeal the decision and pointing to how much the lawyers representing Tornetta could profit from this trial. In response to an early February report, Musk said it was “so deeply and utterly wrong that a law firm that harmed Tesla could stand to gain billions.”

THIS TIME LAST YEAR:

Elon Musk’s lawyers to make closing arguments in CEO’s pay package case

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send your tips to us at tips@teslarati.com.

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Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla Model Y Performance gets positive review from Swedish auto outlet

The refreshed Model Y Performance model receives unique bumpers, red brake calipers, new wheels, and a carbon fiber spoiler.

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Credit: Tesla

It appears that Tesla has created something special with the new Model Y Performance. The vehicle, which was released earlier late August, has started receiving rave reviews, some of it even from publications that tend to be critical of the EV maker and CEO Elon Musk.

Model Y Performance impressions

Swedish automotive outlet CarUp.se has given the updated Tesla Model Y Performance high marks, highlighting its redesigned sport seats as a standout improvement. Tesla implemented a number of key improvements to the Model Y Performance, such as its redesigned sports seats, which now feature powered thigh extensions like those found in the Model Y L from China.

To summarize, its review, the publication noted that “In addition to making you sit like a king, (the Model Y Performance) is also extremely fast at red lights.”  The publication highlighted that “the exterior of the Tesla quickly reveals that it is a Tesla Performance model and there is no doubt that it is a really good-looking electric car.” This is quite impressive considering that the previous-generation Model Y Performance looked quite tame compared to the Model S and X Plaid and the Model 3 Performance.

Tweaks and improvements

The refreshed Model Y Performance model receives unique bumpers, red brake calipers, new wheels, and a carbon fiber spoiler, which together give the crossover a more athletic appearance. Performance badging and projection lighting further distinguish it from other Model Y variants. Inside, the upgraded front sport seats deliver noticeably improved support compared to the standard version, enhancing the vehicle’s balance of comfort and sportiness.

The new Model Y Performance deliver 460 horsepower and a top speed of 250 km/h, while consumption is listed at 16.2 kWh/100 km and range at 580 km WLTP. The crossover also benefits from adaptive suspension with preset damping modes. Manufactured at Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, the Model Y Performance is currently available in Europe and the Middle East, with deliveries expected to start in the next 1-2 months.

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Tesla Model Y leads sales rush in Norway in August 2025

The surge was led by the new Tesla Model Y, which has proven to be quite successful in the European country.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla posted strong results in Norway this August. The surge was led by the new Tesla Model Y, which has proven to be quite successful in the European country. 

Tesla’s excellent August

Data aggregated by TeslaStats.no suggested that Tesla saw 2,959 vehicle deliveries in August. This represents a notable 38.59% year-over-year increase compared to the 2,135 vehicles that were delivered by the electric vehicle maker in August 2024. Estimates from EU-EVs also indicated that Tesla sold 2,450 Model Ys in August 2025, making it the country’s top model.

Tesla’s domination in Norway was so notable that even with several days left in August, Swedish automotive outlet CarUp estimated that Tesla already held about 22% of the country’s auto market. This was very impressive considering that Tesla saw headwinds in Europe earlier this year due to the changeover to the New Model Y and negative sentiments about CEO Elon Musk.

Existing momentum

Tesla’s momentum in Norway has been notable for some time. In June, registrations rose 54% year-over-year, according to the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). The Model Y was the standout, recording a 115% increase compared to the same month in 2023. Growth was even sharper in May, when Tesla sales surged 213%, CNBC noted.

Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association (NEVA), attributed the brand’s success to the refreshed Model Y and its practical appeal. “I think it just has to do with the fact that they deliver a car which has quite a lot of value for money and is what Norwegians need,” Bu said. She pointed to features such as spacious cargo capacity, all-wheel drive, towing capability, higher ground clearance, intuitive digital systems, and Tesla’s established charging network as key factors.

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Tesla dominates JD Power tech survey with double VW’s score, but gets no award

Tesla was not eligible for awards because the company did not “meet study award criteria.”

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has emerged as the clear leader in JD Power’s latest technology survey, dominating with a score twice that of veteran automakers like Volkswagen. 

This was despite Tesla not receiving any official awards in the survey due to eligibility issues.

Survey results

As per JD Power, its 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study collected responses from 76,230 owners of new 2025 model-year vehicles. This was the 10th year that the auto firm has conducted its study. Based on the raw scores of automakers in the survey, Tesla was the clear winner with a rating of 873 points out of 1,000. As noted in a CarUp report, Tesla’s ratings was more than twice as much as veteran automakers like Volkswagen or Toyota, which scored 432 and 436 points, respectively.

Rivian ranked second in the results with an impressive 730 points out of 1,000. That being said, JP Power noted in its press release that both Tesla and Rivian, the two highest-scoring automakers in its survey, are not eligible for awards because the companies do not “meet study award criteria.” In its report, CarUp alleged this criteria required automakers to be sold in all U.S. states. 

As a result, Genesis was officially awarded the top rank in JD Power’s study despite its 538 score. Following Genesis was Cadillac, which received a score of 526, and Lincoln, which received a score of 523 out of 1,000.

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Driver insights

According to JD Power, technology-related problems reported by drivers decreased by 6.3 per 100 vehicles compared to last year, contributing to a stronger user experience overall. Respondents identified automatic climate control as one of the most appreciated features, thanks to its ability to manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning seamlessly.

“Smart technology not only seems to anticipate the driver’s needs but also reduces the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of technology at JD Power.

Car wash mode, a feature meant to prepare vehicles for automated cleaning, was a frequent source of frustration due to its placement within infotainment menus. Drivers also voiced concerns over recognition systems that occasionally malfunction. In contrast, the blind spot camera received widespread praise, with 93% of drivers reporting regular use and 74% stating that they would like the feature in future vehicles.

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