Former Tesla executive Drew Baglino launches heat pump startup Sadi Thermal Machines
Baglino, who departed Tesla in April 2024 after nearly two decades, has founded the company in Scotts Valley, California, sharing premises with his previous firm, Heron Power.
Former Tesla senior vice president Drew Baglino has quietly founded a new heat pump startup named Sadi Thermal Machines. The company was established in June 2025 and is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California, where it shares premises with Baglino's previous venture, Heron Power. This marks the second company founded by Baglino since he left Tesla in April 2024 following a tenure of nearly two decades.
The new venture appears to employ several former Tesla staff members, according to a review of LinkedIn profiles and a source familiar with the startup. While sources have confirmed the existence of the company and reviewed filings in Delaware and California, detailed operational information has not been publicly disclosed. Attempts to contact Baglino or his public relations firm for comment regarding the new venture have so far been unsuccessful.
Baglino brings extensive experience in thermal management systems to the new project, having overseen the development of Tesla's core energy technologies, including electric motors, batteries, and power electronics. During his time at the electric vehicle maker, he worked specifically on the heat pump systems used in vehicles such as the Model Y, including the sophisticated "octovalve" system that manages cabin, battery, and motor temperatures.
The name of the company is an apparent reference to Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot, a pioneering French physicist whose work formed the foundation of modern thermodynamics. This connection aligns with the company's focus on heat pump technology, an area where Baglino and Tesla executives, including Elon Musk, previously discussed the potential for residential and commercial applications during a 2022 earnings call.
At that time, Baglino noted that developing a heat pump for the home would be easier than creating one for a vehicle, which is constrained by mass and volume. While Musk qualified the statement by saying it was a thing they would do without committing to a timeframe, Tesla has yet to release a residential HVAC or water heating system. With Sadi Thermal Machines, Baglino appears poised to make good on that earlier sentiment.
Little is known about the specific product roadmap, technology, or timeline for Sadi Thermal Machines at this stage. Claims regarding the employment of former Tesla alumni are based on LinkedIn reviews and a single source and should be verified through official company statements. The article notes that little is known about the startup, meaning any assertions about its capabilities or market strategy remain speculative until further details are released.
