Tesla board member James Murdoch testified in November 2022 that Elon Musk identified a potential CEO successor, sparking speculation about leadership transition, with internal candidates like Tom Zhu and external figures such as JB Straubel frequently cited by analysts. While early 2025 reports suggested a formal search for a new CEO, Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm publicly denied these claims, affirming confidence in Musk's leadership. Read the full details on potential successors at Business Insider .