Tesla vet says that ‘reviewing real products’ — not mockups — is the key to staying innovative

GM’s recent surge in electric vehicle (EV) offerings—expanding from just the Chevy Bolt to 17 fully electrified models—has propelled it to second place in U.S. EV sales behind Tesla. This success is partly attributed to Jon McNeil, a former Tesla president during the critical Model 3 launch period, who now serves on GM’s board. McNeil credits Tesla’s innovation to a unique product development approach championed by Elon Musk: weekly product meetings without slides, focusing exclusively on reviewing real, tangible products rather than mockups. This practice, inspired by advice Musk received from Steve Jobs, emphasizes creating a “perfect product” that surprises and delights customers, blending minimalism with engaging features. At Tesla, this culture of rigorous, hands-on product reviews fostered continuous innovation and high standards, with designers directly involved in refining both hardware and software. McNeil highlights how this approach kept Tesla’s leadership engaged and ensured rapid weekly progress. Since joining GM’s board in 2022,