Tesla lastly moved ahead with Gigafactory Nevada growth for Tesla Semi and 4680 cells a yr after the unique announcement.
Tesla Gigafactory Nevada was the primary main step in Tesla’s effort to safe battery cell provide for its bold progress.
The automaker partnered with Panasonic to deploy new battery cell manufacturing capability on the facility, and Tesla used these cells to construct battery packs for its autos and power storage merchandise.
When initially asserting the plan for the manufacturing facility, Tesla was speaking concerning the plant producing 105 GWh of battery cells per yr and 150 GWh of battery packs per yr as soon as accomplished.
It was speculated to turn out to be the biggest constructing on the planet.
Nevertheless, the manufacturing facility is presently about 30% full, and Tesla hasn’t expanded the power for years as each the automaker and Panasonic have targeted on optimizing the present manufacturing capability.
Right here’s what the manufacturing facility is meant to appear like as soon as accomplished (yellow) and the prevailing sections with Tesla’s operations (pink) and Panasonic’s (blue):
![Tesla Gigafactory Nevada final version](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/11/Tesla-Gigafactory-Nevada-final-version-1-e1604427567795.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1024)
Tesla hasn’t expanded the footprint of the manufacturing facility in 5 years at this level, because it targeted on optimizing this one and constructing new ones that embrace vertically-integrated automobile manufacturing.
In January 2023, Tesla introduced an enormous growth of Gigafactory Nevada so as to add manufacturing of Tesla Semi vehicles and 4680 battery cells and to lastly increase the manufacturing facility to its initially deliberate dimension.
The purpose is to construct the Tesla Semi in quantity on the plant together with the 4680 battery cell, which powers the electrical truck and new Tesla autos.
Tesla launched this up to date picture of the deliberate last plant:
![](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Tesla-Gigafactory-Nevada-render.webp)
The corporate is usually recognized to maneuver shortly after such bulletins, but it surely didn’t do something for a yr.
Immediately, we study that Tesla is lastly beginning to get some building, or at the very least earth-moving, work executed for the Gigafactory Nevada growth.
Youtuber ‘Zanegler Tesla Semi Stalker’ posted a brand new drone flyby of the manufacturing facility and within the video, he claimed that Tesla held a “groundbreaking ceremony” for the growth on Wednesday.
We couldn’t verify that, however the video does present Tesla transferring floor for some building work:
Nevertheless, it doesn’t appear like Tesla is engaged on the beforehand introduced growth with new sections of the prevailing constructing.
The brand new work is being executed outdoors of the initially deliberate space:
![](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-19-at-3.25.47-PM.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
It’s doable that Tesla is engaged on the land for a brand new car parking zone because it might want to transfer the prevailing one if it goes by means of with these plans.
The Youtuber mentioned that Tesla advised staff on the groundbreaking occasion that the brand new part for Tesla Semi is definitely going to be a brand new constructing separate to the prevailing one, however we will’t verify that.
Both method, some work is at the very least being executed.
Final yr, we reported that Tesla employed a brand new manufacturing government from Eli Lily to guide its elusive Gigafactory Nevada growth. It’s doable that the plans have modified loads since then.
FTC: We use revenue incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.