Tesla employees have almost nowhere to park.
According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, finding a parking spot at the Tesla factory car park in Fremont, California, is a daunting task – perhaps even as difficult as teaching cars to drive themselves.
The chaos is on full display on an Instagram account, aptly named Tesla Parking Lot, that showcases some of the best Tesla parking-lot fails – or successes, depending on how you look at it.
The account is run by a Tesla factory worker who has been at the company for four years and wishes to remain anonymous.
Take a look at some of the craziest photos.
Though about 6,000 employees work at the factory located about an hour outside of San Francisco, there are only 4,500 parking spots available, the Journal reported.
http://instagr.am/p/BHNNgAgB-kc
Parking is done on a first-come, first-served basis...
http://instagr.am/p/BPDQvadgvps
... So employees have to get creative and find ways to squeeze their cars into the limited spaces.
http://instagr.am/p/BRbo-HKAeGF
Some leave only inches between vehicles.
http://instagr.am/p/BO8RxbhgY1B
Some even drive off-road to find a spot.
http://instagr.am/p/BSl8tPxAlrI
"Parking lines are just a suggestion," the Instagram account jokes.
http://instagr.am/p/BQN_S6rgNUd
One video shows a large pool of water in the middle of the car park. The caption jokes: "Look, empty spots."
http://instagr.am/p/BR8cKfwgRhk
Some of the cars are completely wedged in.
http://instagr.am/p/BSAPxfjADaI
Getting out of the parking lot is a problem. According to the Wall Street Journal, some workers make arrangements to share spaces when they have different shifts.
http://instagr.am/p/BPMCcesgjqb
"Sometimes it feels like I am trapped here," reads one Instagram caption.
http://instagr.am/p/BO2wd_9ATzv
This gas-powered car got clamped for taking a spot reserved for an electric car.
http://instagr.am/p/BRL45gDgDrc
A parking lot across the street had even printed a sign to prevent Tesla employees from parking there.
http://instagr.am/p/BREVpuSAaye
A spokesperson for Tesla told Business Insider that the company plans to introduce new bike lanes and expand its shuttle routes that connect Tesla employees to public transport around the Bay Area.
http://instagr.am/p/BQVmoh0g37h
Employees are currently offered tax-free subsidies for commuting costs and cash incentives to ride bikes to work. But sometimes the bike rack is just as full.
http://instagr.am/p/BRosTy1AswF
It's a similar situation at Tesla's corporate offices in Palo Alto. Despite there being a valet to help drivers park cars, it is still very congested.
http://instagr.am/p/BQB33OzAMK0
However, at SpaceX — Elon Musk's space exploration company — there are plenty of parking spots. The caption jokes, "That time when you realize that Papa Elon picked a favorite child... and it wasn't you."
http://instagr.am/p/BQDnhbvAgfN
According to Wall Street Journal, one employee at the Tesla factory leaves home at 3:25 a.m. in order to secure a space.
http://instagr.am/p/BLZG2M3ACtM
Others just take what they can get...
http://instagr.am/p/BLtU0qqg9t8