*By Carlo Versano*
After [reports](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-23/musk-is-said-to-hire-morgan-stanley-to-help-take-tesla-private) circulated that Elon Musk hired Morgan Stanley to personally advise the CEO on his options to take Tesla private, watchers are wrestling with what's perhaps the question of the summer: is the innovative, but beleaguered automaker better off public or private? And maybe more interesting: is it better off with or without Musk at the helm?
Aaron Cole, managing editor of [Motor Authority](https://www.motorauthority.com/), remains skeptical that Tesla would flourish as a privately run company. Financial transparency and pressure from investors, both part of being public, make corporate governance stronger, he said.
"Tesla has a better route being a public company."
Furthermore, even with Morgan on board as an adviser, privatization would be a far-off future, Cole said. Despite Musk's public statements to the contrary, Cole pointed out the electric carmaker has "no reasonable" way to buy out its investors.
Cole doesn't buy the "cult of Elon" theory either. The CEO's erratic behavior has caused more harm than good, Cole said, and the company may actually benefit if Musk takes a leave of absence.
Cole anticipates Tesla is about to face serious competition from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz as they enter the high-end electric car sector. Musk's do-it-all approach to management is not feasible in a competitive marketplace, Cole said.
"If Elon stays, Tesla also has a tough road," he said.
For full interview [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/tesla-private-bid-inches-forward).
Honda is recalling more than 330,000 vehicles because heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, which could lead to the mirror glass falling out and increase the risk of a crash.
PepsiCo just unveiled a new nostalgic logo, and it might look familiar to long-time fans of the bubbly beverage. The new logo is a slightly modified version of the one last used in the 1990s.
U.S. highway safety regulators have opened yet another investigation into problems with Teslas, this time tied to complaints that the seat belts may not hold people in a crash.
Kia McCallister-Young, director of America Saves, joined Cheddar News to explain key differences to consider when making a choice between a credit union and a bank. "You want to do your research and know exactly how to gain membership to a credit union," she said, "but, again, banks often are able to be more accessible and be in neighborhoods."
Cheddar News breaks down what to look for on The Day Ahead. The House will hold a hearing on the federal response to the recent banking issues while Starbucks CEO will testify on Capitol Hill about union-busting claims. Disney Parks workers are set to vote on a new contract proposal.
