I interned at Tesla twice on the capital expenditure team. First time was during the "March to 2500", where we were going from proto production on the model 3,

I interned at Tesla twice on the capital expenditure team. First time was during the "March to 2500", where we were going from proto production on the model 3, to full ramp up on the first line. We worked 12 hour days, but we missed that target, for a number of reasons. Mainly the GA line was this complex layer of conveyor belts with mezzanines and lifts. We couldn't get all the parts to a compact GA 3 line like envisioned. Elon came in guns blazing. He told everyone to rip out the conveyors, lifts and equipment and build a new, completely manual GA line 'GA 3.5' in the back lot in a tent and we have two weeks to do it. IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK. Senior level, to interns. I was working a saw to cut through conveyors and drag them outside next to the VP of Engineering, solar. Elon was patrolling around, helping where ever needed.... for a month. He slept on a little cot in a the 'mars' room. Everything seemed crazy at first, and incredibly destructive... Although alot of Tesla employees are bonafide Elon fan boys, but I though the whole thing was absolutely bonkers. When Elon was walking around and saw a group standing around, he asked why they weren't cutting. They reply'd that they didn't have the torque tools to remove the motor and were waiting on someone to bring them. Elon proceeded to gather everyone around, put on glasses and cut directly through the $30k motor. He then gave alittle speech about how it is costing to company $4m a day to not be at run rate. The speed and efectiveness of our ability to build 3.5 was of the utmost importance. It fired everyone up and we worked our asses off to get foundation, sprung structure, and GA 3.5 up in the time period. We pushed all our suppliers very hard and we picked ones that could deliver on our timelines. I've never had a conversation with Elon, but i have been in plenty of rooms where he has spoken to employees. I would say what makes him great is his technical prowess, his ability to focus on what matters, and inspire confidence in those who work for him. I can't support his actions with twitter, but he's always been a loose cannon.