Get All Access for $5/mo

Elon Musk Warns Tesla Workers They'll Be Sleeping on the Production Line to Build Its New Mass-Market EV The Tesla CEO said on the company's Q4 earnings call that building Tesla's next-generation EV, set to enter production in 2025, will require Tesla workers to live and sleep on the manufacturing line in Texas.

By Tom Carter

Key Takeaways

  • Elon Musk said Tesla engineers may have to sleep on the line to build the company's next-gen EV.
  • Tesla workers have previously said they slept on factory floors during production ramp-ups.
  • Tesla is working on a mass-market EV, which it expects to start producing in 2025.
Pool/Getty Images via Business Insider
Elon Musk told investors that Tesla's next-generation EV is set to enter production in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Elon Musk warned Tesla workers to prepare for a challenging production ramp-up as he previewed plans to build a mass-market vehicle.

The Tesla CEO said on the company's Wednesday earnings call that building Tesla's next-generation EV, set to enter production in 2025, will require Tesla workers to live and sleep on the manufacturing line at the company's Texas factory.

"We really need the engineers to be living on the line. This is not sort of an off-the-shelf 'it-just-works' type of thing," Musk told investors.

"That will be a challenging production ramp," Musk said. "We'll be sleeping on the line, practically. Not practically, we will be."

It wouldn't be the first time Tesla workers have reportedly had to sleep on manufacturing lines to meet the company's production deadlines.

A former worker at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, told The Verge that employees would sleep on the factory floor after 12-hour shifts. Musk has said he slept beneath his desk while spending "three years straight" basically living in Tesla's manufacturing facilities.

Musk said that Tesla's next-generation vehicle, which Reuters reported is a mass-market, affordable EV codenamed "Redwood," is set to enter production in the second half of 2025 at the company's Texas Gigafactory — though he admitted that he is often optimistic with timing, and could not yet predict how many of the vehicles Tesla would initially produce.

Tesla workers could face a heightened form of what Musk previously dubbed "production hell" during Tesla's 2017 Model 3 ramp-up.

"There's a lot of new technology, a tremendous amount of new revolutionary manufacturing technology here," Musk said.

"I am confident that once it gets going, it will be head and shoulders above any other manufacturing technology that exists anywhere in the world. It's next level," he added.

The billionaire has hinted for years that Tesla plans to release a cheaper EV expected to cost below $30,000.

It comes as the company is under increasing pressure from Chinese EV manufacturers prioritizing more affordable vehicles, with the Chinese EV manufacturer BYD recently overtaking the U.S. automaker as the world's largest producer of electric vehicles. But BYD does not yet sell its cars in the U.S.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.

Science & Technology

Why Businesses Are Relying on Automation to Survive the Labor Crisis

Robots are revolutionizing industries by addressing labor shortages and enhancing efficiency, while businesses navigate challenges like workforce adaptation and high implementation costs.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.