Tesla seeks leader to launch UK retailer 

Tesla appears to be ramping up its plans to enter the UK energy retail market.

The company – owned by tech giant Elon Musk – has launched a job advert for a head of operations to “prepare for commercial launch of a retail electricity product in the UK”.

Tesla was officially granted a generation licence in the UK in 2020, allowing it to sell electricity commercially.

Tesla Electric is currently only available to Powerwall owners in Texas, but the company has always said it plans to expand to other territories.

The job advert adds: “We believe strongly that simplifying and improving the customer experience around retail electricity and virtual power plants is necessary to drive significant adoption amongst consumers.

“Delivering a seamless, simple customer experience will ensure that small scale residential flexibility can be fully utilized to support the transition of the entire electricity grid to 100% renewables.”

In the role, the head of operations will be responsible for managing Tesla Electric’s market entry in the UK “and building out the team, systems and processes needed to start operations”.

The job advert adds: “We seek candidates with demonstrated experience in delivering retail energy programs and with a healthy skepticism [sic] of the status quo.”

The advert states that candidates with a “proven track record in a leading position within a (preferably start-up) energy retailer in the UK” will be prioritised.

The position will be located in either London or Manchester.

Tesla launched its supplier in Texas in December last year, offering households the option of selling electricity from owners’ batteries to the grid during peak times and buying it back when it is cheaper. New Tesla owners who sign up to the plan are also able to charge their electric vehicles overnight for free for the first year.

Musk has also previously said that Tesla plans to manufacture its own heat pumps in the coming years.