You're right and wrong.

VW has money, but they have established themselves in the market. They sell cars and don't have all that much reason to switch over to EVs because they are a relatively successful company.

Telsa is a new comer on the block, with any new business your first challenge is determining what you'll be focusing your business on. What exactly will be your advantage over your competition.

Telsa decided to focus on EVs which were few and far between. To do this, they produced a large number of vehicles (almost definitely at a loss) combined that with a solid marketing strategy and would later reap the profits. To afford that strategy takes money and is not a position an established company will take only a new company.

Having worked in a startup I can guarantee you, that was the original owners thought and do it well enough they either break even and go for the IPO or get bought out. I would suggest working in a startup but startups suck and will rove years off your life from stress so maybe don't go work for one.