Gigafactory
The first Gigafactory started being built in 2014 in the Nevada, US. The name Gigafactory comes from the word 'Giga,' the unit of measurement representing 'billions'. Tesla decided to call it that because it was going to produce 'gigawatt-hours' (GWh) in battery capacity.
Currently, Tesla has three Gigafactories around the world in Reno, New York, and Shanghai; one under construction in Berlin, and one more planned in Texas. Giga Texas is also being called the 'Terafactory'.
Learn more about Tesla's Gigafactory on their site.
Pictures of Gigafactory
Videos about Gigafactory
Past Tesletter articles
[Rumor] Production for Giga Texas starts next week
If this is true, it will be great news to folks in Europe waiting to order a Tesla from their local factory. Once the production ramps up a bit, I would expect the European-made Tesla to be a bit cheaper, since it won’t include customs fees and will be cheaper to transport.
From issue #197Berlin model Y with structural pack and 4680s
In the recent Giga Berlin tour, people were able to see the structural pack with the new batteries 4680s in a Model Y.
From issue #185Body shop and general assembly
I love watching videos of the factory! Enjoy this one which is the third part of the Fremont Factory, by CleanTechnica. If you are an owner and haven’t taken the Fremont tour we highly recommend it, let us know if you don’t know how.
Camera team in Giga Berlin
The video is in German and I didn’t understand a word, but it is cool to see the factory from the inside.
From issue #176
Elon Musk reveals plans of building an ecological paradise at Giga Texas
Elon Musk tweeted about how Tesla plans to have a river open to the public, as well as a boardwalk with amenities that goes all the way to downtown Austin. Tesla first needs to get the factory to full capacity, but Elon even said, in a reply to our buddy John from TOSV, that they might do electric Tesla boats 😱.
From issue #235Elon talks about a possible 'radical redesign of the Model Y in Berlin'
A few days ago, Elon Musk visited the Giga Berlin and, amongst other things, he shared that the Model Y made in Berlin won’t simply be a copy of the one made in the US or in China but instead, “it will be a radical redesign of the core technology of building a car”. More info is going to be revealed at the Battery Day (Sep. 22nd). I wonder if we’ll see a European Model Y slightly smaller than the US one. I think even though the Model Y is smaller than the Model X, it’s still a tad big for the European market.
From issue #128First Giga Texas VIN assigned to Model Y Performance reservation holder with March delivery date
First report of someone with a Model Y Performance made in Giga Texas, exciting!
From issue #205GF3 is already testing the lines
A few shots of the interior of the GF3 in Shanghai got leaked this week. They show how Tesla is already testing the production lines.
Read more: Twitter
From issue #74Giga Berlin - Inside progress
It is amazing how fast Giga Berling is coming together! In the video (6:36), you can appreciate some kind of inside equipment 👀
From issue #147Giga Berlin on track despite the pandemic
It’s official, the German Economy Minister recently said that he did not expect any significant delays to occur at Tesla’s first European production plant. Happy to hear the good news.
From issue #111Giga Berlin paint shop
I love these videos that Tesla is releasing from their different factories. This week’s, Giga Berlin’s paint shop.
From issue #203Giga Berlin paint system
Thanks to their advanced paint system, Giga Berlin is capable of producing better and deeper colors like the Mercury Silver Metalic or Deep Crimson Multicoat. Here is a video of the paint system in action.
From issue #254Giga Berlin-Brandenburg county fair & factory tour on October 9
If you are close by, it seems like a great opportunity to check it out!
From issue #177Giga Texas colossal plans
We’ve known for a while that Tesla had big plans for the Giga Texas. But how big? Some say it’s not all about the factory- afterall, Tesla is a hardware but also a software company, Elon has said it himself many times. Speculations say that Tesla could be building a separate research and development and design facilities at the site. Austin has a great tech scene and Tesla could potentially be creating a new video game design and production team there. What do you think?
From issue #130Giga(Texas)Fest is coming
It seems that the event will take place in Austin on April 7th. It is unclear how people will get an invite, but I hope local folks can attend as a way to promote more Tesla and hire people in the area.
From issue #204Giga4 timeline from the German minister
Last week we talked about Tesla announcing GF4 in the Berlin Area, in Germany. There is a lot to be said about the speed that Tesla had in China but according to the German minister they seem to think the project in Germany is going to go pretty fast as well, here is the timeline:
- Q1 2020 Construction starts
- Q2 2021 Finished construction work
- Q3 2021 First cars will roll off the assembly line
Read more: Twitter
From issue #86GigaNotes: Analysis from my Tesla GigaFactory tour
Gali from HyperChange got invited to tour GF1 in Nevada. He toured the factory for two or three hours and made a great video with his thoughts and ideas. If you don’t follow or know Gali, he is one of the best sources of information if you are interested in financial and strategic analysis for Tesla.
Great pictures taken inside GF3
Thanks Ray4Tesla for your great coverage of Tesla China!
Read more: Twitter
From issue #92Hidden source code shows a new 'Tesla credit' section on the referral program page
It’s unclear what this hidden section is, maybe they extended the referral program to give folks credit to expend on Tesla services, maybe something else.
Read more: Reddit
From issue #93
Inside the Tesla Gigafactory 📹
Cool look at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada, definitely worth watching!
From issue #121Join the GigaBerlin 4680 cell team
I love watching this sneak peek of the 4680 Battery Production in Giga Berlin. Beautiful, I want to watch it in a loop now 😊.
From issue #144Leaked images from Giga Texas show Model Y production progress
Leaked photos show some calibrations of the production line. According to the person who published the pictures, the target date to start the production of the Model Y in Giga Texas is early October.
From issue #176
Megafactory in Lathrop, CA
I’ve said this before, I love seeing these videos of the factories 🤤.
From issue #241Model 3 Made in China is almost ready
It’s been 309 days since the groundbreaking ceremony was held and the factory is ready and more and more MIC Model 3s are appearing on social media. This is impressive by any standards! BTW I think that logo in Chinese looks 🔥
Read more: Twitter
From issue #85Model Y Made in Giga Berlin start delivering on 2022-03-22
Really exciting news! For those of you in Europe, we should expect a gradual increase in the % of Model Ys produced in Giga Berlin through the year.
From issue #207Model Ys in Europe will come from Giga Berlin
A couple of weeks ago, we were speculating about this with Lars (@TeslaParaTodos) and Rafael (@TesLatino) in our weekly podcast in Spanish (Es Tesla). Our take was that Model Ys in Europe would probably come from the Giga 4 to avoid delaying production of Model Ys for the US in Fremont, apart from the obvious factors of cost and the fact that the cars will probably be slightly different due to legal regulations in the US and in Europe. Well, now we know for sure.
And we also know that Giga Berlin will “have world’s most advanced paint shop, with more layers of stunning colors that subtly change with curvature”.
From issue #107Our visit to the Tesla Factory
A few days ago we visited the Tesla Factory. Unfortunately, we can’t disclose what we saw, but we can say it was really amazing! If you haven’t done it yet, we totally recommend the visit.
Panasonic expanding at Tesla Gigafactory
Panasonic is going to be making higher-capacity batteries with lower costs at the Giga 1 in Nevada. They are going to be adding a 14th production line earlier next year, after some construction work in the next couple of months. I’m sure we’ll know more in less than a week at Battery Day, one of the strongest rumors is that there’s going to be new battery tech coming for the Model S and the Model X.
From issue #129Pictures of the Giga Berlin construction
Brand new ‘official’ pictures published this month. If you thought the construction of the Giga Shanghai was fast, Giga Berlin is raising the bar even more!
From issue #137Technology from China to arrive in Giga Berlin in a couple of months
According to @teslamag, 180 containers filled with manufacturing equipment are on its way to Giga Berlin from China. They might arrive between March and April. Meanwhile, Tesla is still waiting for the last approval to be able to install the technical building equipment (power lines, sprinkler system, lighting, etc.).
From issue #149Tesla aims for ‘first completion’ of Gigafactory Texas in May 2021
The new Gigafactory, also referred as to the ‘Cybertruck Factory’, which will also be producing the Tesla Semi and Model 3/Y to supply demand from the East Coast, is scheduled to finish its first substantial completion by May 1st, 2021. Seems aggressive but not for Tesla.
From issue #129Tesla China 🇨🇳 received the green light to sell and deliver a ‘Made in China’ Model 3
We should be really close to the first deliveries of the ‘Made in China’ Model 3. Actually, this week we’ve seen pictures of freight carriers loaded with Model 3s in China.
Read more: Tesmanian
From issue #89Tesla China new video
I love seeing the factory, all working in harmony. Tesla is doing a great job in China and soon will be in the new Giga factories as well. As Elon has said in the past, Tesla is building the machine that builds the machine.
From issue #194Tesla exec shares plans for Gigafactory Shanghai tours
Tesla owners may soon be able to tour Giga Shangai. We loved the tour in Fremont a few years ago, I hope things go back to normal and I can go back to see how it has changed in the last two years!
From issue #156
Tesla Fremont Flyover Gigapress operation captured
Pretty impressive video capturing Tesla’s giant casting machine at work.
From issue #148Tesla Giga Berlin Brandenburg Tour
Tesla opened up the door of Giga Berlin to folks for a country fair and DerCaspar posted a ton of pictures on Twitter, take a look!
From issue #185Tesla Giga Berlin’s new paint colors revealed in the mobile app
The new 4.2.1 update contains three new colors: Deep Crimson Multicoat, Abyss Blue Multicoat, and Mercury Silver Metallic.
From issue #188Tesla Gigafactory 1: Panasonic ready to ramp up battery production to 54 GWh
Tesla is expected to start producing Model Y and Semis in 2020. With that, plus Model 3s and a bump on Tesla energy, they’re going to need all the batteries they can produce. If this is true, GF1 will be going from 35 GWh to 54 GWh, which is a lot.
Read more: Electrek
From issue #92Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai
Cool video from Tesla China showing the factory producing a car from start to finish.
From issue #179Tesla Gigafactory VP opens up about battery production
Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada is currently only 30% and is already a 1.9-million-square-foot building with 5.3 million square feet of operating space on three floors. Tesla currently produces there as many batteries as the rest of the world production combined and this is key to achieve Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to a sustainable energy and transport system. Here is an interesting interview with their VP of of Operations at the Tesla Gigafactory.
Read more: Evannex
From issue #66Tesla is going to use factory shutdowns to do upgrades and improve production
Shutting down the Fremont and New York factories due to the Coronavirus outbreak is for sure going to affect Tesla’s Q1 and most likely also Q2 production and sales numbers. However, they are still allowed to use a small workforce at the Fremont factory and Tesla is planning on making upgrades to the production lines which would increase the Model Y production capacity.
Read more: Electrek
From issue #104Tesla Model Y made at Giga Texas spotted on public roads in Austin
First sight of a made in Texas Model Y on a public road, this is exciting!
From issue #200Tesla opens new modern lobby at Giga Berlin with robotic 'bartender'
Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin has introduced a new modern lobby that merges futuristic design with functionality. This space, open to the public, features a Tesla Model Y on display, neon lights, and metallic touches, creating a visually engaging environment. The lobby includes a robotic ‘bartender’ capable of pouring beer and preparing coffee, adding a unique touch to the visitor experience.
From issue #291Tesla plans to build original cars both in Berlin and Shanghai
It’s not the first time that Elon Musk shares on social media their plans to build a new Model Y in Berlin different than the one being built in the US. It seems Berlin is not the only Giga where Tesla plans to build original cars, what I wonder is if he was referring to the new compact model announced at the Battery Day, something else, or maybe both?
From issue #131Tesla plans to open their Terafactory in Austin, Texas
It seems like Tesla has chosen Austin, Texas, as the location for their next factory which will be producing the Cybertruck and Model Y. This information is not fully confirmed yet but Elon Musk is already planning a quite aggressive schedule for its development. We shall see.
Read more: Electrek
From issue #112
Tesla Q2 Earnings Call
In yesterday’s Q2 update, Tesla beat the estimates and reported the fourth straight quarter of profits. Elon said he’s never been as excited about Tesla and its future as he is now, and we couldn’t agree more. Here’s a quick summary of the call:
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Confirmed the next Gigafactory in Texas, near Austin. It’ll be the biggest one yet and Elon described it as “an ecological paradise” which will be open to the public.
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Solar prices adjusted
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FSD updates
- “It’s getting to the point where I can get to work from home with almost no interventions.”
- “FSD will be the largest financial step-change in history, overnight.”
- The biggest transition in the FSD computer is going from 2D (image recognition) to 4D (video recognition).
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Hints on Tesla making a compact vehicle as well as a high capacity one, but there’s still a long way to go before it happens
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Tesla App Store coming
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Tesla’s insurance telematics product will be available in California and a handful of other states by the end of the year
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Berlin will have local cell production to serve their needs
Here are some great notes by @dburkland on Twitter. Thank you, Dan!
From issue #121Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory 3 Leaked Video of the MIC production line undergoing testing
It’s incredible to think that the groundbreaking of GF3 was in January, and now we are seeing videos of general assembly lines. We should expect to see Chinese Model 3s produced in Shanghai any day now!
Tesla Shareholder Meeting
Here’s a summary of last Tuesday’s Tesla Shareholder Meeting with the things we got most excited about:
- Tesla planning on opening their own body shops. First 10 to open by the end of June 2018!
- Model Y planned for first half of 2020 (with maybe no steering wheel? :O)
M3 test drives at some Tesla showroom locations by the end of June 2018. All stores in North America will have - M3s by the end of July 2018. - New Gigafactory in Shangai, the first outside the US
Read more: TMC
From issue #11Tesla to make its 1st Texas-built test Model Y next week, 1 month ahead of Giga Berlin
GigaTexas seems to be moving faster than Giga Berlin and it will start producing test cars next week. This might mean that we will soon see Model Ys with the 4680 batteries.
From issue #175Tesla’s European Gigafactory will be in Berlin and it’ll start with Model Y production
Elon Musk confirmed that Giga4 will be in Germany, near Berlin, and that it will start with Model Y production. Great news for Europe, once this is up and running the price of the Model Y (and probably after it, the price of the Model 3) will go down considerably since they won’t have to account for import taxes and transportation.
Read more: Teslarati
From issue #84Tesla’s new structural battery pack
With the new 4680 battery cells announced at Battery Day, Tesla is going to be abandoning its famous battery skateboard design. This article provides a detailed explanation on what and why this change now.
Related to this, we’ve recently learned that Giga Berlin will use 4680 cells with the structural battery pack, and front and rear single piece castings (on top of a new paint system).
From issue #133The Gigafactory in Berlin has a target capacity of 10,000 vehicles per week
Tesla has big plans in Europe, look at this schedule and numbers:
- Construction of the Gigafactory in Berlin happening in 2020
- Production targeted to start in 2021
- Phase 1 will focus on Model Y production
- Target capacity of 10,000 vehicles per week
- Employment of 12,000 people
Read more: Tesla
From issue #100
