Tesla is set to recruit over 800 workers in the U.S., covering roles from construction and manufacturing to artificial intelligence and robotics, approximately three months after initiating mass layoffs.
Back in April, Tesla began laying off thousands globally, impacting nearly every division, including the departure of six executives, such as the senior director of human resources and senior vice president of powertrain and energy.
According to CNBC, about 14% of Tesla’s workforce, roughly 19,600 employees, were let go. The company also appeared to implement a hiring freeze, removing thousands of job postings at least twice since the layoffs began. In a letter to employees, CEO Elon Musk attributed the layoffs to duplications of roles due to the company’s rapid growth.
Tesla now seems ready to onboard new talent. Bloomberg News reported that the new job openings have started appearing on Tesla’s careers webpage over the past few weeks.
Among these positions, at least 64 are dedicated to AI and robotics projects, including Tesla’s Optimus robots and the Dojo supercomputer. Musk has stated that Tesla will invest over $1 billion in Dojo to process the vast amounts of data collected by its electric vehicles.
Musk recently highlighted the potential value of Tesla’s Optimus robots, suggesting a hypothetical scenario where the product could add $20 trillion to the company’s market capitalization. These robots are not expected to be available until the end of 2025 and may be priced between $20,000 and $30,000. Musk predicted that by 2025, Tesla will have over 1,000 robots working for the company.
Additionally, at least 25 jobs are linked to the development of Autopilot or self-driving technology. Tesla’s autonomous fleet of “robotaxis” is anticipated to be a significant revenue stream in the future, with Musk envisioning a network resembling a hybrid of Airbnb and Uber.
Tesla has postponed its planned technology unveiling by two months, now scheduled for October. Musk mentioned on Monday that he requested a significant front design change, and the extra time allows Tesla to showcase additional features.
Musk, who now describes Tesla as an “AI/robotics and sustainable energy company,” rather than just an electric vehicle manufacturer, has long-awaited the achievement of full self-driving autonomy—a goal he has yet to fulfill.
Tesla’s careers page also lists numerous energy-related jobs and internships. The company recently reported its highest quarterly deployment of energy storage products, reaching 9.4 gigawatt hours. The energy business, often overlooked, could begin to have a more substantial impact on earnings and stock value.
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas noted that investor attention could shift towards Tesla Energy, which he values at $36 per Tesla share ($130 billion), as the business stands to benefit uniquely from investments in the U.S. electric grid fueled by the AI boom.