Tesla wants to add hundreds of employees to its staff after CEO Elon Musk oversaw massive cuts to its headcount this year.
Over the past few weeks, Tesla has posted about 800 jobs on its careers page. Most new positions are for roles in Tesla’s robotics and artificial intelligence departments.
New hires will mostly focus on developing Tesla’s self-driving software for its autopilot and robotaxi programs, while others will contribute to the company’s humanoid robotics project Optimus.
The new hires will also help flesh out areas where Tesla cut too drastically. Along with AI and robotics positions, the company has hundreds of typical service jobs listed on the careers page.
Tesla’s hiring spree comes after a better-than-expected second-quarter report and a victory for Mr. Musk at June’s annual shareholder meeting. Both events boosted Tesla’s share price and inspired confidence in its leadership.
Tesla’s share price has risen steadily in the past month, going from $187 to $250.
The new hires focusing mostly on robotics and AI signals a shift in focus for Tesla, which is mostly known for its luxury electric vehicles. After increased competition slowed demand and sales, the company has pivoted to emerging technologies like AI and robotaxis.
The renewed hiring focus follows a troubling start for Tesla in 2024. In the first financial quarter, the company reported a 20% decline in delivered vehicles from the previous year, and Mr. Musk quickly announced the layoffs.
Initially, he said Tesla would reduce its global workforce by about 10%. However, the company has started to hire back some of the cut employees, including parts of the Supercharger team that was cut in its entirety in April.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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