Steers clear - occasionally volatile firm run by an odd dude! (5)
I believe the answer is:
tesla
'volatile firm run by an odd dude' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'steers clear occasionally' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'steers'+'clear'='steersclear'
The alternate letters of 'steersclear' are 'TESLA'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tesla that I've seen before include "Unit of magnetic flux density" , "Physics unit" , "American scientist" , "SI unit; steal (anag.)" , "Nikola ---, electricity pioneer" .)