Elon Musk is one of the richest people in the world, but the bed he frequently sleeps in probably isn't as nice as yours. In fact, it's not a bed at all. On an earnings call yesterday, Musk revealed that not only is his desk situated at the end of the Model X production line, but he sleeps in a sleeping bag in a nearby conference room.
"I'm personally spending an enormous amount of time on the production line," said Musk, according to Mashable. "My desk is at the end of the production line. I have a sleeping bag in a conference room adjacent to the production line, which I use quite frequently."
It's no secret that the Model X has had some quality issues early in its production. It was recalled last month for a safety issue with its third-row seats, and many customers have reported other issues, especially with its "falcon wing" rear doors.
A few months ago, Tesla told customers it was slowing Model X production to better ensure quality, even claiming that Musk drove many cars as they came off the line. Tesla also recently lost two manufacturing executives, reportedly over snags with the Model X, though a Tesla spokesperson denied this was the reason for their departure.
There's no doubt Musk is committed to ensuring his company builds the best possible cars, but perhaps it was too ambitious with the complex, and arguably, unnecessary features of the Model X. It also casts serious doubts on its ability to significantly ramp up production for the mass-market Model 3, for which there are nearly a half million preorders for.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
