Tesla’s Nevada Gigafactory is kind of a spot—since its 2014 opening, the corporate has invested $6.2 billion within the area, and the 5.4-million-square-foot, 11,000-employee facility has produced some 7.3 billion battery cells, 1.5 million battery packs and three.6 million drive items.
Now Tesla has introduced plans to take a position a further $3.6 billion, rent 3,000 extra staff members, and add two new main operations on the web site: one to construct 4680-format battery cells at an annual capability of 100 GWh (sufficient for round 1.5 million electrical autos); and one other to construct the brand new Tesla Semi electrical Class 8 truck.
Tesla initially introduced that the growth would encompass “two new factories,” however CEO Elon Musk has now made it clear that the plan is to construct out the prevailing Gigafactory constructing to its originally-planned dimensions in an effort to accommodate the brand new cell and Semi manufacturing.
In line with Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Tesla’s complete annual battery capability could possibly be as a lot as 439 GWh by the top of the last decade, nipping on the heels of China’s BYD, the world’s largest EV battery producer with some 546 GWh of forecast capability. (Elon has been speaking a lot greater numbers—500 GWh a 12 months in Nevada and 1,000 GWh complete).
Tesla has been rising manufacturing of its 4680 cells in California and in Texas, tripling manufacturing within the third quarter of final 12 months from the earlier quarter. Benchmark believes the corporate’s objective is to carry its cell-level value all the way down to $70 per kWh.
“Tesla has prioritized the ramp-up of US-based cell capability over the previous 12 months, having beforehand made the choice to maneuver battery manufacturing gear from Giga Berlin to its facility in Austin, Texas,” stated Benchmark Analyst Evan Hartley. “This new growth plan in Nevada signifies a continued deal with home cell manufacturing.”
It’s unclear whether or not Panasonic, which at the moment makes battery cells at Tesla’s Nevada Gig, shall be concerned within the subsequent spherical of growth.
In the meantime, Tesla’s earnings announcement for This autumn 2022 introduced the information of the corporate’s “greatest 12 months ever on each degree” (the inventory market appears to have gotten the memo a number of months late). In 2022, Tesla delivered over 1.3 million automobiles and achieved a stellar 17% working margin.
“On a full-year foundation, income elevated over 50%, working revenue doubled, free money flows elevated over 50%, and our margins remained industry-leading,” stated CFO Zach Kirkhorn.
Sources: Tesla, Benchmark, EVannex, Yahoo Finance, Electrek, CNET