Zinger Key Points
- Musk said in January he wouldn't be comfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without a 25% voting control.
- He also warned that, if that were not the case, he would prefer to build products outside of Tesla.
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Tesla, Inc.’s TSLA upcoming annual shareholder meeting, scheduled for June 13, is crucial as it will decide the fate of CEO Elon Musk’s 2018 compensation package, which was nullified by a Delaware Chancery court in late January. On Saturday, the billionaire weighed on what is at stake at the annual meeting.
What Happened: A Tesla influencer and investor going by the X handle @Teslaconomics said in a post that Tesla can “march on forward to become the largest company in the world” contingent on the following conditions:
- Musk getting 25% voting power
- Tesla being incorporated in Texas
- Musk’s compensation package is approved
If these conditions are met, the AI & robotics business will stay “within Tesla,” the influencer said.
“Yes,” Musk said in reply, concurring with the view.
Why It’s Important: Incidentally, the influencer’s view was an echo of what Musk himself said in mid-January. In a post, the Tesla chief said he wouldn’t be comfortable growing Tesla to be a leader in AI & robotics without a 25% voting control in the company.
“Enough to be influential, but not so much that I can't be overturned,” he said.
Musk also warned that, if that were not the case, he would prefer to build products outside of Tesla. He also clarified that he wouldn’t be motivated with just stock ownership.
“Fidelity and other own similar stakes to me. Why don't they show up for work?” he asked.
Meanwhile, in the proxy statement filed with the SEC, Tesla has sought reapproval of Musk’s compensation package and the shifting of the state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas. Amid criticism over the CEO pay plan, the company has recently intensified efforts to secure shareholder backing for it.
As its core EV business suffers, Tesla has shifted its focus toward the robotaxi business, which rides on the back of the company’s self-driving software. The robotaxi business and the high-margin revenue stream from the sale of the FSD are seen as near-term life buoys that can lift the company out of the fundamental rut. The company plans to unveil the robotaxi on Aug. 8.
Tesla ended Friday’s session up 1.50% at $177.46, according to Benzinga Pro data.
Check out more of Benzinga’s Future Of Mobility coverage by following this link.
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