GM CEO Dan Akerson's strategy to wipe Tesla Motors off the map There's more information coming out on General Motors' agenda taking on competitor Tesla Motors. It seems to be based on the historic trend of a giant automaker wiping out a small startup. GM is willing to become the loss leader, and has the deep pockets to make up for it long term. GM CEO Dan Akerson told The Detroit News : "We'll sell more (Chevrolet) Volts and lose less money on the Volts than they'll lose on the (Tesla) Model S." GM's executive management wasn't happy with the findings from a market study conducted during the summer and led by GM vice chairman Steve Girsky. Akerson is also skeptical that Americans will ever buy plug-in vehicles in large numbers. (Detroit News Reporter David Shepardson wrote that Tesla's profits came entirely from California's zero-emission vehicle credits and other credits – though many would disagree with that statement.)