- Tesla pausing Cybertruck production from December 3 through 5, resuming operations December 6
- Workers were told they’d be paid for the days off despite the halt
- No official reason for the pause has been provided, but pundits speculate waning demand
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Tesla is directing workers on its Cybertruck production line in Austin, Texas to take three days off, per a new memo seen by Business Insider. The production halt, which will last from December 3 to 5, was announced on Monday. Workers were informed they would still receive eight hours of pay for each scheduled day off.
Tesla told employees regular scheduling will resume on Friday, December 6. Some employees will not be affected by the schedule change and will receive separate notifications. The company has yet to disclose a specific reason for the temporary suspension of production.
The scheduling adjustment follows recent reports of irregularities on the Cybertruck assembly line. Workers have stated production schedules have been inconsistent since late October. Some said they were occasionally sent home or reassigned to training exercises or cleaning duties during their shifts. Some complained there were fewer opportunities for overtime compared to during the model’s launch.
Tesla debuted the production Cybertruck last year, initially receiving more than two million reservations, according to the company. However, demand may have shifted, looking at several indicators, despite Canadian deliveries beginning only a few months ago. Some reservation holders have cancelled their orders following the release of vehicle pricing, for example, while others have noted they received their vehicles earlier than expected.
Analysts suggest this could indicate Tesla is working through its reservation list faster than anticipated. Other speculate demand is dropping due to numerous reports of teething issues that have cropped up since launch. Many videos have surfaced showing the Tesla pickup struggling to complete basic pickup tasks; while others poke holes in the vehicle’s fit and finish. Finally, the promised battery range at launch, over 800 km (500 miles), has been dramatically readjusted, as the best estimates place it at just over 500 km (310 miles).
Earlier this year, Tesla shortened production shifts on the Cybertruck line, as outlined in an April memo. The company has not provided further information regarding the reasoning behind these scheduling adjustments.
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