Ashok Elluswamy: The Indian engineer behind Tesla’s autopilot success

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has praised Elluswamy for his pivotal role in developing Tesla’s Autopilot technology.

• Pramod Thomas
• 11 June, 2024

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By: Pramod Thomas

AN Indian American engineer has been lauded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his pivotal role in the development of Tesla’s autopilot technology.

Musk recently praised Ashok Elluswamy on social media, crediting him and the AI/Autopilot team for their groundbreaking work.

“Thanks Ashok! Ashok was the first person to join the Tesla AI/Autopilot team and ultimately rose to lead all AI/Autopilot software. Without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomy supplier that doesn’t exist,” Musk tweeted.

Who is Ashok Elluswamy?

Elluswamy holds a Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and communication from the College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai. He later pursued a Master of Science in Robotic Systems Development at Carnegie Mellon University.

Before joining Tesla, he worked as a Software Engineer at WABCO Vehicle Control Systems and as a research intern at the Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab.

Elluswamy was the first engineer hired for Tesla’s autopilot team in June 2014. Over his 10-year tenure at Tesla, he has climbed the ranks to become the director of Tesla autopilot software in May 2019.

According to reports, his contributions have been instrumental in advancing Tesla’s autonomous driving technology, starting from humble beginnings with limited computing resources to leading a highly successful team.

Elluswamy’s expertise lies in robotics, with a focus on computer vision, perception, planning, and control. His leadership has been crucial in Tesla shipping the world’s first autopilot system in 2015, a milestone that set Tesla apart in the autonomous vehicle industry.

Described by one of his professors as one of the “top students,” Elluswamy has earned high praise for his technical skills and innovative approach. He is actively involved in sharing updates about Tesla and his work on social media, where he has a substantial following.

Living in San Francisco, US, Elluswamy continues to lead Tesla’s autopilot software development, contributing to the company’s reputation as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology.