**Tesla Halts Production Lines Due to Global IT Outage**
On Friday morning, Tesla experienced a widespread IT outage that resulted in the shutdown of some of its production lines. The issue, linked to a problem at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affected servers and manufacturing devices, impacting many Windows systems worldwide. While not all production lines were affected, Tesla made the decision to send some factory workers home early during the night shift at its Austin, Texas and Sparks, Nevada facilities. This action was taken after the machinery at the factory started displaying error messages due to the global IT outage.
According to a memo obtained by Business Insider, Tesla notified staff that the company had been impacted by a “Windows Host Outage,” which caused issues with servers, laptops, and manufacturing devices. Users reported seeing a blue screen on their devices, indicating system failure. However, it is still unclear when the impacted lines will resume production, leaving workers uncertain about their schedules.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, known for his quick wit, initially shared a meme poking fun at the outage, but later acknowledged the severity of the situation. Responding to a post from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Musk commented that the IT issues had “given a seizure to the automotive supply chain.” This statement highlights the significant impact of the global outage on various industries.
Microsoft, which has been investigating the issue, has stated that it has completed mitigation actions and that most apps and services have recovered. However, some customers may still require manual updates, causing further delays in resolving the problem.
The outage caused by CrowdStrike’s issue with Microsoft has affected numerous companies across different sectors. Airlines, retailers, and banks have all experienced disruptions as a result. Many Microsoft users woke up to a blue screen notifying them that their devices had encountered a problem.
In conclusion, while Tesla’s production lines were temporarily halted due to the global IT outage, it is unclear when full production will resume. The incident underscores the vulnerability of companies to widespread technology failures and the potential consequences for industries beyond the tech sector. As Tesla and other affected companies work to resolve the issue, it is crucial for cybersecurity firms like CrowdStrike to ensure that their systems are robust and resilient to prevent such disruptions in the future.