From Joe Tegtmeyer.
Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, and Cybertruck production happens and in 2025, the Next Generation Car(s), Cortex 1 & 2, Cybercab & the Optimus Robot!
A great (but cool) day to fly and check out many newly cleared sites that may indicate more construction projects and some major relocation of some temporary operations that have supported the construction of the factory over the past few years.
Timestamps:
Drone flight overview with discussion & illustration: 0:06 to 4:11
Drone flight footage & infographics: 4:33 to 31:56
In the video introduction, we talked about a few new updates from Tesla, including the dropping of the “standard” terminology for the lowest priced Model Y and the introduction of the base Model Y AWD variant. This now provides a base Model Y RWD & AWD, a Premium Model Y RWD & AWD and the Performance model.
Perhaps later this year Tesla will introduce the Model Y L to round out the model line and provide a replacement for the soon-to-be-discontinued Model X. This development may also explain why we have been seeing the east parking lot filling up with what I had thought were a bunch of “Standard” Model Y’s.
We also talk about the breakthrough of the dry electrode manufacturing process for the 468-0s’ including both the anode and cathode and how this breakthrough will positively impact Tesla’s product lines this year and beyond. Tesla employee Michael Guilfoy posted recently that this significant development will provide 4680s to Cybertruck, Cybercab, Optimus, the Tesla Semi and reintroduce them in some versions of the Model Y!
Finally, in the intro, I discuss a few new permits that have been recently filed by Tesla with the Travis County Permitting agency. One shows a new shade structure will be added to the west Direct Delivery Center. This will likely improve the overall customer experience when they arrive to pick up their new vehicle.
There is another permit to add or modify superchargers at the south end of the End-of-Line facility. We also talk about a permit for a temporary set of chiller units for Cortex 2, and at the site we see these already in-place. I think this is to allow for a ramp up of testing and operations of the datacenter while construction and equipment installation continues.
A few other observations from today:
At the site, I noticed this was a Model Y AWD & RWD production day, as over the past few months Tesla seems to favor individual days to produce certain variations of the Model Y line.
On the west side, I noticed more transformers have arrived on site, which continues the trend over the past year of accumulation and then movement off site.
The far southwest contractor parking lot seems to be in prep for big changes. Over the past 72 hours, I’ve noted this lot completely cleared out, shuttle bus operation has stopped, and the gate check-in trailer seems to be getting ready to be removed. Perhaps we will see this lot re-purposed for some construction projects soon.
On the far east side, I noted a new clearing getting infill dirt from center-dump trucks today. This is in the area where I have heard a large-scale reconfiguration effort is underway to make way for River Road extension and also, construction of a new stand-alone factory for the Optimus Robot.
In order for this to happen, much of the existing temporary trailers, workshops, material storage, equipment and more needs to be relocated.
Many more Megapacks arrived at Cortex 2 today, bringing the total number on site for installation to over 100, with even more room to spare.
From my previous video, I posted images of these deliveries to Cortex 2 and my understanding that many more were inbound on “X” and Elon Musk responded with a like so I believe Tesla is both pleased with the progress and confirms that this will be a very large battery electric storage system.
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.
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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
