Tesla Cybertruck production halted, future unknown

A memo reveals that Tesla Cybertruck production will be halted for three days. Employees have said their schedule has been inconsistent for months.

Tesla Cybertruck production halted

Business Insider reviewed a memo given to Tesla employees working at the Austin facility were told to stay home for three days while still receiving 8 hours of pay.

“On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week (Dec. 3-5), you do not need to report to work,” the memo said, according to BI.

The expectation is for employees to return on December 6 with production resuming.

However, BI reports workers have experienced an inconsistent schedule.

For example, four employees said several times after getting to the factory, they’d either be “sent home or given additional training exercises or cleaning duties” for their 8-hour shift. Another employee pointed out to BI that overtime is now no longer a part of working at Tesla.

“When I started at Tesla you could expect to get overtime pay, now I feel lucky to get 40 hours,” said the worker on the Cybertruck line, who’d been with the company for several years.

Tesla Cybertruck demand slips?

It is unclear what is causing the slowdown at the factories and it is rumored to be that demand for the Tesla Cybertruck has dropped dramatically. 

Tesla, which dissolved their public relations department, does not respond to media requests for information.

Electrek.com, an electric vehicle focused website, reports that demand was upwards of 2 million reservations when the truck was announced.

The expectation was many of those reservation holders would have to wait years to get one of the trucks, yet new owners are reporting they are readily available. 

Tesla has also started to offer a lease program for the electric truck.

Then there’s social media videos showing trucks sitting on lots.

Todays look at the Stagnant CyberTruck corral at the Tesla location I pass daily pic.twitter.com/8LmEVrvT9I

— Zerin “Happy Honda Days” Dube (@SpeedSportLife) December 4, 2024

The bottom line

While Tesla won’t respond publicly, it certainly seems likely demand has fallen for the polarizing Cybertruck.