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submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by ZeroCool@vger.social to c/theonion@midwest.social

AUSTIN, TX—In the latest round of layoffs for the company’s struggling automotive division, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla fired the entire team behind brakes, sources confirmed Wednesday. “As we continue to rightsize the Tesla workforce, we have come to the decision that stopping the car is no longer a critical function,” said CEO Elon Musk, whose announcement came as a shock to the team of 500 Tesla workers responsible for the electric vehicles’ braking systems. “As the brakes never really worked anyway, we figured the team’s existence was redundant. Going forward, none of our models will be outfitted with brakes. Instead, we will shift our efforts to making fart noises louder.” At press time, Tesla staffers responsible for wheels were reportedly nervous after receiving an ominous meeting request from HR.

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[-] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 202 points 2 years ago

TBH, the Onion has to have a hard time these days trying to outdo reality, but this honestly got me for half a second.

[-] viking@infosec.pub 23 points 2 years ago

I'd have believed it. Wouldn't put it past him to fire everyone and then hire a handful juniors to fix it.

[-] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 years ago

I think there was a period in the 2010s where they had it harder because reality was getting so absurd, but in 2024 I think the Onion has firmly crossed that valley of humorous uncertainty and confidently begun vertically scaling the mountains of “Let’s Just Take Awful Real News And Make It A Little More Plausible As A *Joke While Giving Everybody A Hug While They Are Crying From The Brutality Of Late Stage Capitalism” like a possessed, gargantuan spider of bitter sarcasm.

[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 134 points 2 years ago

The fact that it wasn't obvious that this headline was satire until I looked at the URL, really says something about Elon.

[-] Zipitydew@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Honestly though this is one car system Tesla might be able to get close to having no team of their own.

The brakes on all their cars are designed and supplied by Brembo. Tesla certainly has some people making sure they'll fit. But that step is only needed when a new model is being designed. Once the model launches Tesla can make a quality person (lol) work with Brembo on any revisions.

Edit - if not clear I agree with you and am wondering if The Onion is predicting the future again.

[-] karpintero@lemmy.world 51 points 2 years ago

Brakes just slow you down anyway...

[-] Beefytootz@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago

It's all a conspiracy promoted by big slow to sell less fast!

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago
[-] hsr@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 years ago

Drive fast and break things!

[-] ZeroCool@vger.social 4 points 2 years ago

You jest but you just know there's Muskrats out there that would say this without a shred of irony.

[-] GluWu@lemm.ee 0 points 2 years ago

I drive a 2 stroke Honda dirt bike without a rear brake and say that unironically

[-] YerbaYerba@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

I hope the front isn't a drum brake at least

[-] GluWu@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

Front disk is all I need. Rear drum doesn't work with the clusterfuck of different year parts its made from so I need $40 for a rear disk. Fuck that. I'd rather have 2 30 racks. That's more fun for more people.

[-] GluWu@lemm.ee 3 points 2 years ago

Heeeeeell yeah brother

[-] Ssolos@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 2 years ago

Man it's been awhile since I've seen a theonion post. This had me for a hot minute

[-] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

They have been really busy ever since they were hired to take over writing the plot to Human Life.

[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

You sure? Maybe you've been seeing them this whole time, but with news and satire being so close to each other these days and what not....

[-] Tulitaa@kbin.social 15 points 2 years ago

Pls don't give him any idears

[-] You999@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

The worse part is that it's completely possible for tesla to get rid of the brakes and rely solely on the motors for stopping, at least on the vehicles with AC motors. It would be a really stupid idea since braking effort is directly tied to the shaft speed meaning you get less brakes the slower you are moving and you wouldn't be able to brake while fully charged but hey it's still possible.

[-] Aceticon@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

Depending on how a motor is designed, you can definitelly break using power by changing the cycle or reversing the direction of the current.

Though if I remember it correctly, it's not great for an electric motor to do it.

[-] You999@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago

It's only bad for DC motors to use dynamic brakes (proper name) and even then it's only bad for them when coming to a complete stop. Using DC motors to slow down is perfect fine. AC motors don't suffer the same issues and can utilize dynamic brakes at any speed including to a complete stop

[-] LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago
[-] salarua@sopuli.xyz 10 points 2 years ago

brakes are woke and socialist and full of CRT, real Americans stick their foot out the door and shred their boots on the road to stop their car

[-] Grimy@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

Capitalism doesn't need to stop, brakes are for commies

[-] baldingpudenda@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

Real Americans^TM^ already having braking procedures figured out.

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 3 points 2 years ago

Real Americans just buy a bigger truck and let momentum do its job.

[-] ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

it was good enough for Fred Flintstone, it's good enough for me.

[-] Aceticon@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

"We sell movement, not lack of it!"

[-] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago

Just hang your foot out the door

[-] Wogi@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

One time, when I was very young, my mother had stopped at a gas station in my home town and there was a car at the only other pump. I couldn't see what was going on but apparently a kid had his leg out of the door and the car pulled forward, and she apparently heard it pop. I think I was too young to have any context for what was going on but without even seeing what happened she went inside to call emergency services.

[-] aquinteros@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

were we are going we don't need.... brakes

[-] el_eh_chase@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 years ago

Tesla about to drop the Flintmobile

[-] ThePantser@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

What kind of client are y'all using that you can't see The Onion is the community? Are you joking these headlines trick you or is your client hiding the community?

[-] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Lmao, how very Elon Musk of him 😅

[-] badbytes@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I wonder when these crazy decisions will stop?

[-] YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Just open the doors. That should have the same effect.

[-] LoamImprovement@beehaw.org 6 points 2 years ago

But if it's raining you'll void the warranty!

[-] Aceticon@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

The turbulence of openning the windows should act as an airbrake.

[-] PlexSheep@infosec.pub 3 points 2 years ago

Move fast and brake things.

[-] Crisps@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago
[-] Chozo@fedia.io 5 points 2 years ago

[...] the customer asked the Tesla salesman midway through the test-ride.

[-] oo1@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

the best part is no part.

[-] iarigby@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

“struggling automotive division” x_x

this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
699 points (99.4% liked)

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