Tesla is planning a major expansion of its workforce at Giga Texas, its manufacturing facility near Austin, Texas, according to recent comments by Jason Shawhan, the director of manufacturing at the plant. Shawhan stated that Tesla aims to increase the number of employees at Giga Texas from over 20,000 currently to 60,000 once production of the upcoming Cybertruck begins ramping up over the next few months.
The ambitious hiring plans for Giga Texas come as Tesla prepares for the highly anticipated launch of its electric pickup truck, the Cybertruck. The futuristic vehicle was first revealed in 2019 and production was originally slated to begin in 2021. However, challenges related to the development of the Cybertruck’s unique exoskeleton design resulted in delays. Now, Tesla is gearing up for initial low-volume production of the Cybertruck by mid-2023, with volume production expected to follow shortly thereafter.
The massive workforce expansion at Giga Texas will be necessary to enable the high-volume production Tesla is aiming for with the Cybertruck. At a planned output of up to 500,000 vehicles annually, Giga Texas would become Tesla’s largest manufacturing facility. The company has described the Cybertruck as being critical for reaching key company goals related to growth and profitability over the next few years.
In addition to preparing for Cybertruck production, Giga Texas already manufactures the Model Y SUV for customers on the East Coast. The facility officially opened earlier this year and has been gradually increasing output of the popular electric crossover. At full capacity, Giga Texas is expected to be capable of producing up to 1.5 million vehicles per year spanning Model Y, Cybertruck, and future models.
To staff up for this ambitious production target, Tesla will hire thousands of new employees over the course of 2023. Positions will include production operators, engineering roles, management, and more. The company is offering training and development opportunities to prepare new hires to work on Tesla’s industry-leading production lines.
The massive hiring effort underscores Tesla’s confidence in strong demand for its electric vehicles. The Cybertruck in particular is one of the company’s most hyped future products, with hundreds of thousands of pre-orders already placed. By investing heavily to prepare Giga Texas for volume Cybertruck and Model Y production, Tesla aims to cement its status as the world’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer.
