Tesla to recruit 400 staff for Fremont Model S ramp-up in 2012
Tesla will add at least 400 jobs in 2012 as it prepares to launch Model S production at the former NUMMI plant in Fremont, California.
Tesla Motors will hire at least 400 people in 2012 as it prepares to launch full-scale production of the Model S saloon at its Fremont, California factory. The company is recruiting ahead of its planned July start for Model S assembly, marking a key step in its transition from niche electric sports cars to higher-volume manufacturing.
The hiring drive centres on the former NUMMI facility, which Tesla acquired after the joint venture between General Motors and Toyota closed in 2010. The closure left around 4,700 workers without jobs. Tesla’s expansion offers a partial reprieve for the region’s manufacturing workforce, with many applicants reportedly drawn from the pool of ex-NUMMI staff.
Tesla aims to build up to 6,000 Model S units in 2012 and as many as 15,000 in 2013. The Model S, an all-electric saloon, is a critical launch for the company as it seeks to move beyond the low-volume Roadster. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of July 2012, with the first customer deliveries expected mid-year. Tesla has confirmed that the 2012 Model S allocation is already sold out.
Fremont plant’s legacy and transition
The Fremont factory was previously the only unionised Toyota plant in the United States and the last major car manufacturing site on the West Coast. Tesla’s use of the site has involved repurposing existing tooling and equipment, some acquired at reduced cost from local sources. The company has described the availability of used manufacturing assets as a benefit for its ramp-up phase.
While Tesla’s hiring represents only a fraction of the jobs lost when NUMMI closed, it signals renewed activity at a site that had stood largely idle. The company’s focus on electric vehicles and powertrain components brings a different production profile, but the recruitment drive is a rare boost for automotive manufacturing jobs in California.
What it means for workers and production
Most of the new roles are expected to be in manufacturing and assembly, supporting the Model S launch and future production increases. The recruitment is likely to draw heavily from experienced local workers, including former NUMMI employees familiar with the site and automotive assembly processes.
Tesla’s hiring plans come at a time when the company is under pressure to deliver on its Model S schedule and move towards profitability. The Model S is priced from $49,900 and is central to Tesla’s growth strategy. If production targets are met, the Fremont plant will see output rise sharply compared to the early Roadster days, although still well below the annual volumes typical of mainstream manufacturers.
- Tesla to hire at least 400 in 2012 for Fremont plant
- Production target: up to 6,000 Model S in 2012
- Many applicants are former NUMMI workers
For more on the Model S and Tesla’s progress at Fremont, see Tesla Fremont Plant Hits Full Output as Model S Demand Surges.
