The main problem is a lack of factory employees. As reported last month, Tesla only managed to hire roughly 7,000 employees to build the Model 3 and Model Y at this facility. Tesla’s initial goal was to have 12,000 workers. This shortage has already resulted in the facility failing to meet its 500,000-unit goal last year. So why has it been so hard to hire, especially as the world is facing an economic slowdown?
Because Germany’s manufacturing sector is very competitive. Legacy automakers, such as Volkswagen, pay more. Tesla reportedly pays its German workers 20% less than the competition. Inexperienced management has contributed to the problem as well.
Tesla is now supposedly recruiting 200 to 300 people a week for the Berlin factory, a move that has helped increase the facility’s labor force to around 9,000.