Tesla to close a dozen solar offices in nine states: report

Tesla will close about a dozen solar facilities in nine states as a part of its ongoing moves to downsize, according to a Reuters report.

The closures come as a part of Tesla’s decision last week to cut 9 percent of its workforce.

The cuts will be to Tesla’s solar division formerly known as SolarCity and include ending a solar retail sales partnership with Home Depot, which employees told Reuters was responsible for half its solar sales.

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The company will keep 60 installation facilities open and close 13 to 14 — documents reviewed by the outlet varied in their final count.

Tesla did not comment to Reuters directly about the closures.

“We continue to expect that Tesla’s solar and battery business will be the same size as automotive over the long term,” it said in a statement.

Installation facilities expected to be closed according to the internal emails Reuters obtained include California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Arizona and Delaware.

The closures raise questions about CEO Elon Musk’s decision to buy SolarCity, which was founded by two of his cousins. Many investors and analysts were critical of the move at the time.

They also come at a time of turmoil at the company amid the staff cuts and Musk accusing saboteurs of leaking information and tampering with code.