Tesla Cuts 200 Autopilot Workers as California Site Closes (1)

Tesla Inc. laid off hundreds of workers on its Autopilot team as the electric-vehicle maker shuttered a California facility, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most of the roughly 200 people let go were hourly workers, the people said late Tuesday, a surprise given that Tesla previously disclosed headcount reductions targeted at salaried positions. As recently as last week, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk outlined a plan to boost hourly jobs.

Tesla’s shares fell 3.8% at 9:41 a.m. Wednesday in New York. The stock tumbled 34% this year through Tuesday’s close, compared with a 20% decline in the SP ...