Tesla (TSLA) Steps-up Hiring as Rivals Look to Steal Talent

Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) is increasing the pace of its hiring as auto giants and startups vie for more tech-savvy workers.

The WSJ noted that Tela is looking to add thousands of engineers as its ramps-up production of its first SUV and works to start production from its Gigafactory battery factory. But, the 12-year-old company will also need to compete with fierce rivals for top talent.

Several startup electric vehicle companies, including Faraday Future, Karma Automotive, and Atieva, have been moving to steal employees away from Tesla. Titans like Ford Motor (NYSE: F) and Toyota (NYSE: TM) are also looking to expand their tech prowess, while Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and Alphabet's (Nasdaq: GOOG)(Nasdaq: GOOGL) are also working on vehicles and vehicle-related technology.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took it upon himself to jump start hiring recently, posting a message to Twitter that he was looking for top talent. With a recent post, Musk said that "no prior experience with cars required. Please include code sample or link to your work [...] I will be interviewing people personally and Autopilot reports directly to me. This is a super high priority."

Currently, Tesla's headcount-to-car-output ratio is rather high; the company employs 14,000 workers and is on pace to produce 52,000 cars this year, or a ratio of 3.7 cars per worker. Comparably, Tata Motors employs 36,000 and will sell 500,000 vehicles this year for a ratio of 13.8 vehicles per employee.

But, Tesla is expecting to produce and sell nearly double its current 2015 goal in 2016.

Shares of Tesla of indicated higher early Tuesday.

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