Tesla plans to temporarily pause production of the Cybertruck and Model Y models at its Austin Gigafactory over the week of July 4.
The pause is allegedly to conduct routine maintenance and update assembly lines for both cars, per Business Insider.
Employees were informed earlier this month that production for both the Cybertruck and Model Y would pause during the week of June 30 and resume the following week. Tesla representatives told workers that this downtime would allow the company to make improvements that would help boost production rates in the future.
During the shutdown period, workers can allegedly take paid time off or participate in optional training.
Tesla has paused production at the factory at least three times in the past year, with similar shutdowns allegedly connected to scheduled maintenance, or part “shortages.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is preparing for the company’s much-anticipated Robotaxi launch in Austin, as previously covered by The Dallas Express, now set to take place sometime this summer.
Musk recently said that the company aims to offer its first autonomous rides in Model Ys starting June 22, with 10 to 20 robotaxis expected to hit the streets initially. However, he warned that the timing could change as the company is being “super paranoid about safety.”
Despite the company’s ambitions for the robotaxi service, Tesla faces ongoing challenges. Earlier this year, the automaker reported a 13% drop in vehicle deliveries compared to the same period last year.
Tesla also recently paused Cybertruck production due to a battery supply issue and reduced output in April.
However, temporary production pauses like these are not entirely uncommon in the auto industry.
Other automakers such as Ford and GM have also paused production of popular models during holiday periods or to address supply chain and equipment updates.
Still, the frequency of these stops at Tesla, which historically avoided such interruptions, points to the company’s ongoing efforts to improve output, while also maintaining its ambitious autonomous driving projects.
The EV company is now expected to release its second-quarter delivery figures next month, which will paint a clearer picture of Tesla’s future.