Tesla’s German Gigafactory is encountering an unusual issue: a significant number of coffee mugs have disappeared. At a recent staff meeting, Tesla’s German Gigafactory manager, Andre Thierig talked about the problem. Since the factory commenced operations, a total of 65,000 coffee mugs have vanished.
I’m just going to give you a figure. We’ve bought 65,000 coffee mugs since we started production here. 65,000! Statistically speaking, each of you already has five Ikea coffee cups at home. I’m tired of approving orders to buy more coffee cups,” Thierig added.
The factory, which employs around 12,000 people, is now facing a peculiar issue of theft that has led Thierig to threaten to stop providing cutlery in the break rooms if the problem persists. This is a notable distraction for a plant that has faced its share of challenges since opening. Reports from shortly after the factory’s inauguration indicated that Tesla had experienced three times as many emergencies as Audi’s plant in Ingolstadt.
In a broader context of cost-cutting, Tesla recently reduced the workforce at the German facility by approximately 2%. Jannes Bojert, secretary of IG Metall, the union representing the factory’s employees, noted that the workers are under significant pressure and are increasingly dissatisfied with the plant’s safety conditions. Bojert has hinted that the mounting frustration might lead to a potential strike.