Just three weeks ago, the plant was solemnly put into operation. Giga Berlin, and now Tesla has launched another new venture. Here we must not get confused in the numbers: the Giga Texas factory is also called Gigafactory 5, but this is only the fourth car factory of the company (and the second in the United States), and if we consider all Tesla enterprises, then the Texas site has already become the sixth in a row.
Several states fought for the right to host Tesla’s new plant, but in July 2020, the company chose Texas, which offered the most favorable conditions. The construction of buildings near the city of Austin began immediately, and already in August 2021, the first test electric car rolled off the assembly line. The following months were spent on the development of technological processes, the certification of the plant and the adjustment of work with suppliers. The plant itself cost the company $ 1.1 billion: it houses the welding, painting and assembly shops, as well as the production of traction batteries. Also, to Austin from Silicon Valley moved Tesla headquarters.
Elon Musk calls Giga Texas the most productive auto plant in America. Already at the first stage, the factory can produce up to 500,000 Tesla Model Y electric SUVs per year! Thus, the total capacity of all Tesla car factories has reached two million cars annually. Production of the Model Y has already begun, with Texas cars the first to get batteries with new cells. format 4680, which will become the basis for future models of the company. It is stated that such batteries are half the price in production, heat up less and allow a 16% increase in power reserve. However, the volume of production of new battery cells is still small, so now only Tesla Model Y SUVs in the Standard Range AWD version with a battery capacity of 68 kWh and a passport range of 450 km are leaving the assembly line. A Long Range version with an 82 kWh battery will be available at a later date.
At the Cyber Rodeo festival organized in honor of the opening of the plant, Elon Musk made several important statements. Already in 2023, the Texas gigafactory will be expanded: the production of long-promised models – sports cars will begin here Tesla Roadsterpickups Tesla Cybertruck and long haul tractors Tesla Semi. The first public demonstration of the serial version of the Cybertruck took place, which for the first time caught even at the beginning of the year.
The production-ready pickup almost repeats the first prototype shown back in November 2019. The electric car only found more traditional wheels, the bumper and wheel arch extensions became larger, rear-view mirrors appeared, and a huge janitor was installed on the windshield. In addition, almost imperceptible additional headlights are installed above the front bumper.
At the Texas plant, Elon Musk also intends to produce humanoid robots under the name Optimus. This project was announced last summer (then called Tesla Bot), and the first operational sample is expected this year. Finally, Tesla is developing robotaxis, a completely unmanned electric vehicle with a futuristic look. True, Elon Musk did not name the timing of the implementation of this project. By the way, more than 60,000 Tesla electric vehicles with a beta version of the FSD (Full Self-Driving) autopilot are already driving on US roads.
