Tesla almost went bankrupt in its pursuit to automate manufacturing and achieve volume production. The problem wasn't that they overestimated how much they could automate. Instead, they had issues with almost every aspect of the Model 3 production line, from cells to packs to motors to final assembly.

Tesla is the first car startup since the 1920s that reached production without going bankrupt. Elon lived in the factories for three years. He slept on the floor so that the team who was going through a hard time could see that he didn't just sit in his ivory tower. He was in it with them.