The US car manufacturer Tesla is apparently planning extensive job cuts. This is reported by several media outlets, citing an internal communication from CEO Musk. Grünheide could also be affected.
According to media reports, Tesla wants to cut more than one in ten jobs worldwide. Tesla boss Elon Musk announced this in an internal communication, reported the tech publication Electrek and Handelsblatt, among others. Accordingly, 14,000 jobs would be affected by the job cuts.
According to Handelsblatt, Grünheide is also affected. Around 3,000 of the 12,500 employees there would be laid off, the newspaper reported, citing two internal sources.
“This will make us lean, innovative and hungry for the next phase of growth,” Musk is quoted as saying. He hates the step, but it is necessary. The US electric car manufacturer has not yet officially confirmed its intentions.
Sales recently declining
On Tuesday next week, Tesla plans to present its figures for the past quarter. The US car manufacturer started the year with a significant decline in sales. It was the first time in almost four years that the company sold fewer vehicles than a year ago. Tesla is struggling with competition from Chinese suppliers such as BYD and the growing range of electric cars overall.
The effect of price cuts and discounts is becoming less and less reflected in the sales figures, as the electric car pioneer is only slowly refreshing its aging model range and will only come up with important new products next year. According to insiders, Tesla has also abandoned its plan to build a low-cost electric car for the mass market.