Gigafactory Texas expansion

[demarpaint]

Without getting political, we need to open to the fact that the smartest and/or most qualified candidates do not always reside in one location. If you limit your options to one continent, you are potentially missing out on talent and business capability.

True, but you often get what you pay for, which could be the case here. We both can only speculate on Musk's reasoning so there's no point in going back and forth over it. Musk's pick might very well be the best in the world, maybe. I seriously doubt the pay scale in China is on par with the pay scale here, and as our resident Elon expert stated he doesn't pay well. So there are the two sides of the coin. I wouldn't sell the USA short.

 

[The Critic]

True, but you often get what you pay for, which could be the case here. We both can only speculate on Musk's reasoning so there's no point in going back and forth over it. Musk's pick might very well be the best in the world, maybe. I seriously doubt the pay scale in China is on par with the pay scale here, and as our resident Elon expert stated he doesn't pay well. So there are the two sides of the coin. I wouldn't sell the USA short.

Keep in mind that Elon's product, culture and learning opportunities (to an employee) do not exactly have direct competition. If you are professionally interested in learning more about this segment of the industry, Elon's operation is probably your only option.

Also, compensation is always relative to the person's situation.

 

[cptbarkey]

People keep throwing money at his brand, I think he is a disgrace of a human being, but I try to remind myself he didn’t build most of his success, there are thousands who did and deserve more credit. I still don’t understand his tactics with x or twitter or whatever it’s called. He seems to be dismantling it piece by piece and no word on his business partners complaining. We also probably would not have project Artemis without his brand. Maybe that’s a better term, dehumanize him.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Expansion? I thought they just finished building it!

 

[Trav]

Keep in mind that Elon's product, culture and learning opportunities (to an employee) do not exactly have direct competition. If you are professionally interested in learning more about this segment of the industry, Elon's operation is probably your only option.

Also, compensation is always relative to the person's situation.

There is an old and very true proverb. If the camel once gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I just wonder what they can use the building for when the hype ends? Aircraft repair? Housing for the homeles? Have to wonder if Elon is invested in the construction companies.

 

[Audiman]

Answer the question...
Why does the musk not hire an American to run the place instead of a chicom? Fair question.

Maybe he was the best person for the job? Is that not possible?

 

[Trav]

No, it is not possible. Before tesla he had little or no automotive manufacturing experience.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Expansion? I thought they just finished building it!

Yes and no. The main building bricks and mortar is built, but the production lines are being built and output continues to ramp. They build Model Y. Going forward they will build the Cybertruck and SEMI. Perhaps the Model 2. The new expansion is for battery development. Apparently they have a lot of land for the future.

Here is a list of factories but it is somewhat out of date.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Maybe he was the best person for the job? Is that not possible?

At the C level, it is critical to hire the best persons for the job. Zhu is known as the guy who gets things done. Like Musk, he is a workaholic. Here is a little from CNN Business:
"Zhu’s reported promotion came after an impressive performance by Tesla’s China operations.
Since 2014, Tesla has expanded rapidly in the world’s largest car market. In 2019, it built the Shanghai Gigafactory within 10 months, at a cost that was 65% cheaper than the Model 3 production plant in the United States."

Zhu background.

 

[loneryder]

So is Austin making any vehicles yet??

 

[Trav]

At the C level, it is critical to hire the best persons for the job. Zhu is known as the guy who gets things done. Like Musk, he is a workaholic. Here is a little from CNN Business:
"Zhu’s reported promotion came after an impressive performance by Tesla’s China operations.
Since 2014, Tesla has expanded rapidly in the world’s largest car market. In 2019, it built the Shanghai Gigafactory within 10 months, at a cost that was 65% cheaper than the Model 3 production plant in the United States."

Zhu background.

There was not an American that could do that job? Bringing in the chicoms is not making this loon any friends.

 

[JeffKeryk]

So is Austin making any vehicles yet??

Yes, Tesla first started producing the Model Y in late 2021, and the company delivered its first Austin-made vehicles in April 2022. I believe capacity is currently 5,000 vehicles per week. These are for the Mid West to East Coast deliveries.
They are close to releasing the Cybertruck, but that's Elon time.

 

[Torrid]

I just wonder what they can use the building for when the hype ends? Aircraft repair? Housing for the homeles? Have to wonder if Elon is invested in the construction companies.

The guy is building manufacturing jobs in the US and this is the response? Cool. I don’t care for the guy either but you have to admit dogging him while adding so many US jobs is pretty hypocritical when you see the Buick is actually building and importing cars in China for the US market.

So much talk of China I would have thought all the cars come from there! Y’all should start a standup career. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.

 

[Ws6]

Answer the question...
Why does the musk not hire an American to run the place instead of a chicom? Fair question.

Probably because Profits>Nationalism. He likely hires based on performance and not this virtue signal BS.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Perhaps it may not fit some person's narrative, but Tom Zhu may be a citizen of New Zealand.
From CNN:
He was born in China and CNN was not able to confirm if he still holds Chinese citizenship. According to his social media profile, he acquired a bachelor's degree from the Auckland University of Technology in 2004 and an MBA degree from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Tesla, like all major car companies, is a multinational company.
The cars they sell in America are the most "Made in America" of any brand.

 

[Vercingetorix]

The guy is building manufacturing jobs in the US and this is the response? Cool. I don’t care for the guy either but you have to admit dogging him while adding so many US jobs is pretty hypocritical when you see the Buick is actually building and importing cars in China for the US market.

So much talk of China I would have thought all the cars come from there! Y’all should start a standup career. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.

You cannot for a minute believe he won’t sell out any chance he gets. He is not spending his own money. If he was investing in building better cars, I would think he stands a chance. Trying to compete against low wage countries with a low end product built in the USA is folly.

 

[TheLastWord]

People keep throwing money at his brand, I think he is a disgrace of a human being, but I try to remind myself he didn’t build most of his success, there are thousands who did and deserve more credit. I still don’t understand his tactics with x or twitter or whatever it’s called. He seems to be dismantling it piece by piece and no word on his business partners complaining. We also probably would not have project Artemis without his brand. Maybe that’s a better term, dehumanize him.

This "disgrace of a human being" employes this many people:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Tesla_factories

How many do you employ? Ever written a check every week for work done? That's Tesla only, not counting the other ventures.

Thanks Jeff for the info.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Low end 40k Tesla

Low end of the price range 40k AudiA4.

I have driven Teslas and will never own one unless they upscale their interiors. They continue to build capacity when they should be working on quality. The Chinese will waste Tesla at the low end, and in China they already are. The Germans learned this decades ago.

 

[Torrid]

You cannot for a minute believe he won’t sell out any chance he gets. He is not spending his own money. If he was investing in building better cars, I would think he stands a chance. Trying to compete against low wage countries with a low end product built in the USA is folly.

What do you want to see him do then? I don’t understand this at all. Bash him for dealing in China. Blast him for manufacturing in the US. I guess he should burn it all down and jump off a skyscraper then.