

We're not really sure what's going down at Tesla Motors, but it ain't pretty. Martin Eberhard, co-founder of the electric sports car company, says at least 26 people have been fired, some of whom were canned without severance.

Eberhard got the boot in the fall, and according to his blog, he's looking at starting "a new company (possibly even an electric car company) in the energy/clean technology space. . . Bubble or not, I am optimistic about my own ability to raise money from high-quality investors for my next venture."

From what we've seen, he's got good reason to feel optimistic. We recently spotted the guy at Buck's where he was getting the royal treatment. VC types were approaching him and shaking his hand, and he was talking with some dude about how lots of people would like to start a car company now.

Photo: Courtesy TeslaFounders.com