[al_borland]

So they can pay more per employee to account for the higher cost of living and competition in tech? How is that the move?

It also seems like designing the hardware and software in the same place would be useful, so it actually feels like they were designed to go together.

[AlotOfReading]

Automakers already have satellite offices in major tech areas. Toyota, Mercedes, GM, Ford, and Kia/Hyundai all have bay area offices that mainly cater to software people already. I know this layoff affected the Austin GM office too.

The hardware design is done by geographically separated teams for various reasons, often in multiple countries. You just ship the hardware where it needs to go, which you have to do anyway to get it from the factory to an office building.