This April, Musk took over manufacturing engineering personally. “I’m back to sleeping at factory. Car biz is hell.” Field, who’d been in charge of the factory, took a leave of absence the following month; he later left the company. In mid-June, Tesla announced it was laying off 9% of its workforce, more than 3000 people. Musk turned 47 in late June, during the final sprint to make 5000 cars a week. “First bday I’ve spent in the factory, but it’s somehow the best.” On the Friday before the deadline, Musk seemed giddy with excitement about what he expected would be a spike in Tesla’s stock price. He tweeted a music video of the 1958 single Short Shorts, by the Royal Teens. On Sunday he announced that Tesla had hit the milestone and proclaimed his love for his employees. Tesla’s stock price gained 5% on Monday morning.

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