Michael Verfürden

A whistleblower. A 100-GB-leak of confidential internal documents. A corporation in crisis A riveting tale of journalistic enterprise, ethics, and the courage to follow the evidence where it leads The 1st major work about Elon Musk and Tesla since Musk inserted himself directly into presidential politics and, through DOGE, into the lives of millions of Americans When an anonymous whistleblower and former Tesla employee approached Germany's business newspaper Handelsblatt in November 2022, the newsroom was stunned. The allegations were astounding. Months of relentless investigation confirmed them to be true. In The Tesla Files, Handelsblatt journalists S nke Iwersen and Michael Verf rden tell the full story. Drawing on 23,000 leaked documents, 100 gigabytes of confidential data, and hundreds of interviews with employees and customers, they deliver an unprecedented look inside the world's most secretive automaker. This is a portrait of a company that values hype over substance, and a CEO who demands devotion while ruling through fear. It also traces Elon Musk's ascent into the highest echelons of politics--marked by a pattern of obfuscation and manipulation.

'Seven a.m. What the hell is going on?The ringing turns into pounding. Halfway to the door, he hesitates, moves to the window, peers out.His stomach drops. Tesla has found him.'When an anonymous whistleblower and ex-Tesla employee approached the German business newspaper Handelsblatt in November 2022, its newsroom was stunned.The allegations were astounding, offering an unprecedented glimpse inside the world’s most secretive and impenetrable automaker. So began a relentless pursuit for truth in an investigation to piece together the inner workings of Musk’s empire. What emerged was a company that values hype over substance; at its heart a CEO who demands devotion and rules through fear.A riveting behind-the-scenes chronicle of fearless investigative journalism and an astonishing exposé of what lies under the bonnet of the world’s most famous car company, The Tesla Files is the story of what happens when the line between tech empire and political power blurs, and the gripping account of what it takes to challenge the richest man in the world.