Tesla has Reached an Annualized Production Rate of a Quarter Million Model Y’s at Giga Texas

Tesla officially opened the company’s newest vehicle production facility in Austin, Texas in April 2022. The new factory, called Giga Texas, initially started production with the refreshed Model Y with 4680 cells and a structural battery pack.

Currently, Tesla has been selling this new version of the Model Y for a little more than almost a year. And to the disappointment of a lot of people, the refreshed Model Y did not live up to the hype of the 4680 cells and the structural pack architecture.

According to Tesla’s Battery Day presentation, the new cells together with a structural battery pack were expected to increase vehicle range by as much as 54% and improve performance by decreasing the weight of the vehicle.

However, according to information available on Tesla’s online configurator, we know the vehicle has a 279-mile EPA range, 5 seconds 0 to 60 time, and after multiple price cuts, has a starting price of $47,240.

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In comparison, the Model Y Long Range, which is a version of the all-electric crossover produced at all of Tesla’s factories, and that ships with the EV maker’s last generation 2170 cells, has a 330-mile EPA range, 4.8 seconds 0 to 60 time, and after massive price cuts has a starting price of $50,240.

This, at least on paper, has made the Model Y Long Range a more compelling vehicle to get over the refreshed Model Y with the 4680 cells.

And lucky for those interested in the Model Y Long Range, a few months back we reported Tesla has made its first delivery of a Model Y Long Range produced at Giga Texas.

The new vehicle produced at Tesla’s Austin facility is practically identical to the Model Y Long Range produced at the Fremont plant. The new Giga Texas Model Y uses the same 2170 cells, and has similar specs, and the only differences are in small interior features.

The reason Tesla is operating two Model Y production lines, with fundamentally different architectures at Giga Texas is that the EV maker has had difficulties ramping up 4680 cell production. As a result, until Tesla figures out the volume production of the 4680 cells, the EV maker has to produce vehicles with the last generation of 2170 cells as a stopgap.

For this reason, Tesla’s decision to build the 2170 Model Y in Giga Texas makes a lot of sense. However, what has been incredible is the level at which Tesla has been able to ramp 2170 Model Y production at Giga Texas.

According to leaked information obtained by Teslarati, in a little more than a year since the inauguration and 9 months after beginning a second production line, this week Giga Texas has been able to reach a production rate of 5000 Model Ys per week.

Tesla hasn’t yet officially announced this milestone but as usual, it’s expected to be a Twitter post congratulating the Giga Texas team that was able to achieve this feat together with a picture of the hard-working Tesla Giga Texas employees.

BREAKING NEWS! https://t.co/Vo0BMhK3h4Major Tesla battery supplier will produce an aviation battery for electric planes and automotive version of the battery technology is currently under development and will begin production later this year. Read https://t.co/TNCcPC5539- pic.twitter.com/MRLG1L0fYn— Torque News (@torquenewsauto) May 9, 2023

This is certainly exciting and suggests Giga Texas has already reached a production rate of 250,000 vehicles a year. Just to put this into context, 250,000 vehicles a year is double all the vehicles Tesla was able to produce only 5 years ago.

Having said that, 250,000 vehicles a year is still a tiny amount compared to Giga Texas’ full potential. When Tesla first opened the plant with the Cyber Rodeo party, Elon Musk said this is the largest production facility in the world.

At the time Musk compared the factory with some of the largest buildings in the world. For example, Musk said Giga Texas is 3 times the size of the Pentagon which in its own right is one of the largest buildings in the world.

This means when fully built out Giga Texas has the potential to reach a production rate of more than 1 million vehicles a year. Currently, it’s impossible to say how quickly Giga Texas will reach this scale however, we will be sure to keep you posted as Tesla increases production capacity.

Until then, make sure to visit our site torquenews.com/Tesla regularly for the latest updates.

So what do you think? Excited to learn Tesla was able to grow Giga Texas’ production to 5000 vehicles a week in a little more than a year since its inauguration? Also, how long do you think it’ll take for the plant to reach a production rate of more than 1 million vehicles a year? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Image: Courtesy of Tesla

For more information check out: Elon Musk Responds To BBC Top Gear’s 200-Mph Tesla Model S Plaid Track Pack Review

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.