According to media reports, Tesla has instructed production workers at its Gigafactory in Texas, responsible for manufacturing the all-electric Cybertruck pickup, to take three days off this week.
Tesla reportedly sent an email to employees on the Cybertruck production line, informing them that they would not need to report to work on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (December 3-5). Employees will still receive their regular pay but are not required to work during this period.
Tesla has not commented on the report, and CEO Elon Musk has not addressed the matter on social media platform X. Typically, Musk would debunk such claims on the platform if they were untrue.
The timing of the production pause, coming at the end of the year, is noteworthy. Tesla often ramps up production in the fourth quarter to boost delivery numbers and meet annual targets.
This year, Tesla's total production and deliveries are expected to align closely with 2023 levels. Earlier this year, Tesla reportedly focused on developing its next-generation platform, which might lead to a "significant slowdown" in growth for 2024.
Cybertruck deliveries have been ongoing for a year, so it remains unclear if the halt is related to demand issues or if workers are being granted unscheduled leave for other reasons, such as compensatory time off.
Another plausible explanation is that the production line is undergoing upgrades or routine maintenance, necessitating the three-day halt. If avoidable, Tesla is unlikely to delay such a pause into early 2025.
