"Driven, Humorous, and Relentless": Tesla's Indian-origin VP Ashok Elluswamy on working with Elon Musk
In a recent podcast conversation with YouTuber Gobinath,
Ashok Elluswamy
,
Tesla
's Vice President of AI Software, opened up about his professional journey and offered rare personal insights into what it's like working closely with Tesla CEO
Elon Musk
. From describing
Musk
's exceptional drive and sharp sense of humour to reflecting on his own roots and work ethic,
Elluswamy
painted a vivid picture of life inside one of the world's most innovative companies.
Ashok Elluswamy, a robotics engineer originally from Tamil Nadu, has been a part of Tesla's remarkable growth for nearly a decade. Currently residing in San Francisco, he was the first engineer hired for the company's groundbreaking Autopilot team. His trajectory within Tesla, from an initial role in 2014 to his current position as Director of Autopilot Software, mirrors the company's relentless push toward technological excellence and innovation.
During the podcast, Elluswamy described Musk as a highly driven leader with a strong sense of humour and an unmatched work ethic. 'He works really hard, easily 80–90 hours a week,' said Elluswamy, who meets with Musk every week. 'He's very smart in the sense that he can predict the future very early. I feel fortunate to work for him.'
These qualities, Elluswamy shared, are what make Musk both inspiring and challenging to work with.
He noted that Musk's leadership is not just strategic but hands-on. He gets involved in the nitty-gritty of product development and technical discussions. This approach has deeply influenced Elluswamy, who credits much of his own success at Tesla to sharing similar traits with Musk, including a strong work ethic and technical intuition.
In a clip of the interview shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt, Elluswamy added, 'He is not afraid of taking risks.
He is very funny. You can see it in person.' This blend of seriousness, risk-taking, and humour, according to Elluswamy, creates a unique culture within Tesla that pushes boundaries while keeping innovation enjoyable.
Musk, for his part, has not shied away from acknowledging Elluswamy's contributions. In the past, he has publicly praised him for his pivotal role in the development of Tesla's
Autopilot technology
. 'Without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomous supplier that doesn't exist,' Musk stated.
Elluswamy's academic background adds further depth to his story. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai, and a master's degree in Robotics System Development from Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining Tesla, he worked with leading automotive research teams at Volkswagen and WABCO.
Today, Elluswamy stands as a role model for aspiring engineers, particularly from India. His journey from Chennai to Silicon Valley, marked by curiosity, perseverance and excellence, echoes the larger story of Indian talent shaping global technology. His reflections offer not just a glimpse into Tesla's inner workings but also an inspiring example of what dedication and shared vision can achieve in the world of tech.
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