It has been virtually precisely 4 years since Tesla unveiled its new 4680 kind issue at its Battery Day occasion in September 2020. Its objective was to create a brand new cell that will permit for better power density and inexpensive manufacturing—a step in direction of creating its (eventual) $25,000 EV.
In June, Tesla advised the world that it produced its 50 millionth cell. And now, 101 days later, Tesla has doubled that manufacturing, reaching a manufacturing milestone of 100 million cells produced. This is why that issues.
Tesla’s journey to the 4680 hasn’t been with out points. After buying Maxwell Applied sciences in 2019 for its distinctive “dry coating” course of, the automaker has been working tirelessly to good the distinctive tabless design of the battery—one of many keys to chasing the bottom greenback per kilowatt-hour. But it surely’s additionally confirmed to be a producing nightmare for the automaker.
5 years into the method, CEO Elon Musk reportedly gave the workforce in cost an ultimatum: repair it by the tip of the 12 months or we may ditch it altogether. That was again in Could, and now 4 months later, it looks like the corporate may need a breakthrough.
The idea is warranted after Tesla’s manufacturing of the cells exploded in current weeks. Tesla first celebrated a million 4680s in January 2022, adopted by 10 million in June 2023—round 562,000 cells monthly. Tesla then introduced it reached its 50 millionth cell a 12 months later in June 2024, which signifies that it elevated its output to a median of greater than 833,000 cells monthly.
Over the weekend, Tesla celebrated the manufacturing of its 100 millionth cell, which signifies that Tesla is now producing a median of 495,000 cells each single day. To place it into perspective: 29 months for the primary 50 million, and three months for the second.
That is fairly darn spectacular.
With its second-quarter earnings report, Tesla introduced that it entered validation testing of its very first dry cathode 4680 cells in July. Its take a look at topic was a prototype Cybertruck, which is sensible provided that the 4680 is Tesla’s cell of alternative for the car.
It appears that evidently the ramp-up signifies that Tesla is glad with the manufacturing of those cells to date. It is unclear if the rise is attributed to the dry cathodes, or if Tesla is simply ramping up manufacturing of present cells, nevertheless, the automaker has now produced sufficient cells to construct almost 60,000 Cybertrucks.
Tesla says that ramping up manufacturing of the 4680 would be the key to price discount throughout its lineup—one of many firm’s high priorities proper now. And if Tesla has perfected the method, it looks like that objective is turning into extra achievable by the minute.