From Joe Tegtmeyer.
Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, and Cyber Truck production happens and in 2025, the Next Generation Car(s), Cybercab & the Optimus Robot!
Just a few more days left in 2025! For today, I was able to fly and concentrate most of the video on the development, details and progress of the Cortex 2 facility and construction site, including a 1-year look back at the current site showing how much has changed over just 1-year.
Timestamps:
Drone flight overview with discussion & illustration: 0:06 to 4:23
Drone flight footage & infographics: 4:45 to 27:26
In the video introduction, we discuss some key new permits files with Travis County that gives us interesting insights into the power requirements and capabilities of the completed Cortex facility.
To begin with, we now know the facility will be rated up to 200 MW of electrical power to run the datacenter, and this will require a substantial number of transformers and a chiller system, both of which are under construction currently and I expect to see further expansion as we move into 2026 and construction continues.
In addition, we talk about the West Hall portion of the facility, which is where the bulk of the servers will be installed and operational. There are two protection systems permitted for this specific area, and these are for the NPVEC fire suppression system like HALON and specifically designed for computer systems and the VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Alarm) system that offers rapid fault detection.
I also look at the chiller and transformer installations that are ongoing and then set up a 1-year lookback that I do in its entirety in the main video, with narration.
In the main video, two big developments to point out to the viewer to look for. The first is an obviously crash tested Cybercab, and this test was a side impact to the driver’s door. We can see the door missing, windshield cracked and the B-pillar crushed in, with clear confirmation that the side B-pillar is a stamped high-strength steel that joins the upper casting and the rear sub frame castings. Several other Cybercabs under covers show indications of other crash tests that have been completed
The second big discovery was on the east side of the main factory where some interesting Model Y castings were arranged on pallets and under partial covers. These are different in that the rear sections of the castings appear to have stamped steel components attached to them and in a way that does not look like any previous Model Y castings at Giga Texas. What might this mean? At this point I am not sure but hope to be able to get higher quality images on my nest video.
Thank you for watching and I hope this has been informative, educational, and entertaining for you. If you would like, please consider supporting me via Patreon (link is in the description of this video and in the video itself) so I can continue to make and share these incredible videos.
Sources used in this video:
https://www.tcfmopermits.com/public/permits/details/68cc78bb11cba5a8d631da06
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Be sure to check out additional Texas Gigafactory footage on these channels:
@Jeff Roberts
Video, photos, illustrations, and commentary on this video is by me, Joe Tegtmeyer unless otherwise annotated.
Music in this video is obtained from the YouTube free and unrestricted and royalty-free use library. Ending song is Mr. Sunny Face – Wayne Jones
Drones used are DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2 & Air 3.
Drone flight over Giga Texas is with permission of Tesla and CEO Elon Musk
