Something unusual is happening at Tesla’s Austin plant. The company told workers on the Cybertruck factory line to stay home for three days, leaving many to wonder why. Tesla didn’t explain the pause, but employees will still receive eight hours of pay for each missed shift.

The internal memo, sent Monday, informed staff that they wouldn’t need to report to work Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Workers were told regular schedules would resume on Friday, December 6. Despite the reassurance of pay, the sudden halt sparked speculation. Was Tesla fine-tuning its factory production line, or is the futuristic Cybertruck truck facing demand issues?

This unexpected break follows weeks of erratic schedules for Cybertruck workers. Since late October, employees have reported being sent home early or reassigned to training and cleaning tasks instead of assembling vehicles. One worker expressed frustration, saying, “When I started at Tesla, you could expect to get overtime pay. Now I feel lucky to get 40 hours.”

Tesla, as usual, hasn’t responded to media inquiries. The company dissolved its PR department in 2020, leaving questions unanswered and rumors to circulate. Without clarification, the break could point to routine factory upgrades—or something more significant.

The Tesla Cybertruck factory isn’t the only one to shut down

Temporary pauses aren’t rare in the automotive world. Industry giants like Ford, GM, and Stellantis regularly shut down assembly lines for maintenance and updates. Tesla’s break could follow this pattern. However, signs of softening demand for the Cybertruck raise eyebrows.

Tesla began delivering the Cybertruck in late 2023 with over 2 million reservations on record. Yet, after delivering only 30,000 trucks so far, the company appears to be speeding through its reservation list. Buyers who reserved vehicles as late as 2023 are already receiving them. Some reservation holders are canceling orders, likely due to mixed reviews or sticker shock from the final pricing.

The three-day pause at the Austin plant could be a routine adjustment, or it might hint at trouble for the company’s most polarizing vehicle. For now, workers are getting paid, and Tesla watchers are left wondering what comes next.