Tesla’s Austin plant recently made headlines as factory workers on the Cybertruck production line were instructed to take three days off this week, starting from Tuesday, raising questions among employees and industry observers. According to a memo viewed by Business Insider, the specified days off are December 3-5, during which employees have been told not to report to work.
Speculation arises about the possible reasons behind this unexpected directive. One might ponder whether this could be a holiday gesture from Elon Musk, though this seems unlikely given Musk’s well-known expectation of “hardcore” working conditions, where employees are sometimes expected to sleep at their desks if necessary. Workers conveyed to Business Insider that schedules have been inconsistent since October. Previously, working overtime was a common practice, but now they consider themselves lucky to achieve even 40 hours of work in a week. This inconsistency is not entirely new; an April memo had indicated a reduction in working hours for those on the Cybertruck production line as well.
The Cybertruck has been a highly anticipated vehicle since its introduction in 2019, with around two million reservations initially logged according to data from Electrek. Business Insider notes that some of these late reservations have already been fulfilled, suggesting that Tesla may be processing orders more swiftly than expected. In conjunction with these developments, Tesla has adjusted its leasing prices for the Cybertruck. The company now offers a 36-month lease for $899 with a $7,500 down payment for the all-wheel-drive model, and $999 for the same period with a $7,500 down payment for the Tri-motor Cyberbeast variant.
The fluctuating work schedules and recent directives at Tesla’s factory, coupled with the rapid fulfillment of reservations and adjusted lease prices, reflect the transformative period of the Cybertruck production line. As workers navigate these changes, the electric vehicle market eagerly anticipates the impact of Tesla’s latest offerings. The complexities of managing large-scale production and maintaining consistency in work schedules demonstrate the challenges inherent in rolling out such innovative products on a global scale.
