The Tesla Files cover art

The Tesla Files

The Definitive Exposé of the World's Most Powerful Businessman and the Rise and Fall of his Empire

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

The Tesla Files

By: Sönke Iwersen, Michael Verfürden
Narrated by: Mark Elstob
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.06

Buy Now for £12.06

Brought to you by Penguin.

A whistleblower.
A 100BG-leak of confidential internal documents.

This is the story of the fight to expose the truth of Tesla.

Elon Musk is one of the wealthiest people in the world. Tesla made him a 300-times billionaire. Starlink turned him into a force in global conflicts. X became his personal megaphone, stoking political turmoil at the touch of a button. With SpaceX, he aims to conquer the stars.

But a whistleblower, a 100GB-leak of confidential Tesla documents and two investigative journalists reveal the frightening truth behind the façade: an unusually high number of workplace accidents in Musk’s factories, dangerous errors in Tesla's autopilot software, a culture of fear and deception, and countless broken promises.

Investigative journalists Sönke Iwersen and Michael Verfürden take readers behind the shiny surface of Tesla. Through their chilling analysis of internal Tesla data and court documents set alongside the astonishing first-hand accounts of employees, customers and their bereaved families, The Tesla Files reveals a corporation in crisis. At its heart a billionaire who truly believes the world is his for the taking.

The definitive exposé of the world’s most powerful businessman and the rise and fall of his empire.

© Michael Verfürden, Sönke Iwersen 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Business Ethics Engineering Workplace & Organisational Behavior Inspiring Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

The Tesla Files is a triad of disclosures that might have destroyed a more conventional company
Sensational…A bombshell book
All stars
Most relevant
What a book and what revelations. The richest man in the world can do what he likes and get away with anything.
God help us.
This is a must read for anybody who cares about the future of the human race.

Proof that Money=Power

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Thorough and fascinating, I've been a Tesla fan for a long time this book is like that feeling when you start working at your dream company and you suddenly learn that everything is held together by string and that politics and optics are more important than engineering.

You can have the future today but at what price

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The unravelling of the Musk facade told within some of the best investigative journalism in recent times. A stark warning backed up with evidence as to how the world is being manipulated right in front of us by people who have far too much money and power…And we’re worried about AI?

An absolute Musk Read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you've just finished the audiobook of The Tesla Files, you've experienced one of the most factual and detailed pieces of investigative journalism in recent times. The depth of the research by Sönke Iwersen and Michael Verfürden is truly outstanding and makes this a vital listen for anyone interested in big tech, business ethics, or Elon Musk.

​This isn't a book based on rumours or guesswork. It is a powerful exposé built on a massive 100-gigabyte leak of confidential internal documents and thousands of pages of court files. The authors have used this data, alongside extensive first-hand accounts from employees and customers, to pull back the curtain on Tesla.
​The audiobook is compelling because it simply lays out the facts. You’ll hear about serious issues backed by data, including:

​An unusually high number of workplace accidents in the factories.
​Dangerous errors and problems with the 'Autopilot' software.
​A culture of fear and deception within the company.

​The narrative style is clear and urgent, making what is essentially a corporate investigation feel like a gripping thriller. It is a damning account that dissects the hubris and power of one of the world's most talked-about companies and its CEO.

The Tesla Files is a must-listen for its sheer factual weight and deep-rooted journalistic integrity. Highly recommended for a sobering, eye-opening look at what lies beneath the glossy surface.

A Deep Dive into the Musk Empire

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Enjoyable and compelling read that gives more of a focus on the behaviours of Musk that at times felt a bit lacking from the official biography.

This book is more condeming and focuses on how challenging his conduct can be, as well as the negative impacts of him and his behaviour.

Definitely good to read alongside the biography but I guess also in isolation.

Doubt I'll be buying a Tesla having read this!

Excellent to read in tandem with the Musk biography

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews