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Tesla, the electric car company defined by the moonshot mentality of its chief executive, Elon Musk, has started to act with apparent caution.

Out of a desire to show some profits, Tesla said on Tuesday it was laying off around 9 percent of its work force. The announcement came a month after Tesla said it was reducing its forecasts for capital expenditures, a move that would conserve some cash.

Mr. Musk almost certainly has not given up his dream of creating a society-changing, sustainable energy company. Indeed, his compensation plan, announced earlier this year, relies on an ambitious expansion. And many investors still believe in Mr. Musk’s boldness, with Tesla’s stock having soared from its recent lows as investors regain faith.