Tesla has announced that it will invest more than 500 million dollars this year in expanding its network of electric vehicle charging stations, one week after the majority of the team responsible for building the largest such network in the USA was laid off. This was stated by CEO Elon Musk in a post on his social media platform X on Friday. Musk emphasized that this amount would be exclusively for new locations and expansions, not accounting for the significantly higher operational costs.

The Layoffs in Tesla's Supercharger Team Sparked Fears that the Company Could Scale Back Commitment to Expanding the Charging Network, Which is Seen as Crucial for the Wider Adoption of Electric Vehicles in the United States. Tesla Launched This Network Over a Decade Ago and Today Boasts Thousands of Charging Stations Across the Country.

Tesla increasingly opens its network to vehicles of other brands and secures public funds for the expansion of additional charging stations, supporting the Biden administration's plans to create a national charging infrastructure.

In another statement, Musk said that while Tesla continues to work on the expansion of its charging network, it is reducing the pace of new locations and focusing more on the expansion of existing sites.

Last month, Tesla reported a decline in profit for the first quarter to the lowest level since 2021. In the documents at the time, the company stated that in addition to investing in autonomous driving systems, other AI technologies, new battery cell technology, and new products, it is also investing in the expansion of its charging network. Capital expenditures of about 10 billion dollars are planned for this year, followed by annual investments of between 8 and 10 billion dollars over the next two years.