Jia Haonan from Copilot Temple
Reference for Intelligent Vehicles | WeChat Official Account AI4Auto
To be successful, one has to learn from Elon Musk.
Recently, Tesla’s new super factory in Austin, Texas opened. Other car companies might have just cut a ribbon and sent out a press release, but Musk threw a huge party. Not just any party, but an online/offline hybrid party with cool electronic music, food, drinks, games, and even fireworks!
As a marketing genius, Musk also dropped some new information in a short speech on site:
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The new Texas super factory will have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles (similar to Shanghai), mainly Model Y.
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The long-awaited Cybertruck will also begin mass production at the factory in Texas next year.
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The 4680 battery has already begun production and will first be used in Model Y. In addition, the Texas super factory will become the largest battery factory in the world.
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The public beta for Tesla’s FSD (Full Self Driving) system will be widely rolled out in North America this year.
For more details, see:
What did Musk say at the Texas Factory Opening?
Wearing a cowboy hat and driving a Roadster, Musk revealed Tesla’s four key points:
Key Point 1: Production Capacity.
The Texas super factory is planned to have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles.
As part of Tesla’s expansion plan, the Texas factory is very important because Tesla plans to increase production from this year’s 2.3 million vehicles to 3.25 million vehicles by 2023. The Texas super factory, along with the recently launched Berlin factory, will produce 500,000 vehicles per year, while the Shanghai factory is planned to produce 1.25 million vehicles per year, and the California factory is planned to produce one million vehicles per year.
Key Point 2: Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck, which Musk has delayed many times in the past, is really coming this time.
Musk said that the Cybertruck will begin mass production next year, and the Texas super factory will have a portion of the 500,000 annual production capacity reserved for the Cybertruck.# Musk said “Definitely Next Year”
Countless Tesla fans have been waiting for it for a long time.
Before Tesla Model 3 was released, foreign media had revealed that the number of pre-orders had exceeded 1.25 million, and 70% of users had chosen FSD.
Tesla also displayed some prototypes at the event, and observant netizens found many improvements compared to the earliest prototypes.
Keyword 3: 4680 Battery.
Originally, the 4680 battery was to be produced at the Berlin factory, but due to environmental approval issues, Musk had to move it back to Texas, losing billions of euros of technology subsidies in the process.
This battery has two major advantages: low cost and high efficiency. According to Tesla’s data, the 4680 battery can increase energy density by 5 times compared to the current mainstream ternary lithium battery, improve range by 16%, increase output power by 6 times, and reduce production costs by 14%.
However, it will take some time to increase the production capacity of the 4680 battery, and it will be prioritized on the Model Y in the short term.
Keyword 4: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving System FSD.
Musk revealed that the FSD beta test will soon be rolled out on a large scale, and the test range will cover almost all FSD users in North America.
Before this, FSD beta was mainly tested on a small scale through user applications.
In addition to these four major information points, Musk also mentioned a lot of “possibilities”.
For example, in terms of product plans, in addition to the electric pickup, Tesla’s electric semi-truck SemiTruck and the second-generation Roadster, which have also been postponed for years, will be produced at the Texas factory.
As for large-scale deliveries, Musk did not make any firm promises, only saying next year is “very promising”.
Musk also said that Tesla’s intelligent robot, V1 version, is likely to be put into mass production next year.
Finally, the opening of the new factory means that production capacity is guaranteed, and Musk is more confident when talking about future sales targets:
Tesla currently only accounts for about 1% of the global automotive market, but it is not enough. Tesla should at least account for 20% of the global automotive sales to be reasonable.## How about Tesla’s Texas Super Factory?
In Musk’s words, three “biggest” were used:
Tesla’s Texas Super Factory is not only the world’s largest car factory, but also the world’s largest battery factory and the world’s largest building.
One building performs all Tesla’s production processes. Unlike traditional automobile industrial parks that occupy a large piece of land and have different workshops scattered around, the Texas factory concentrates all functional areas together, transforms material transportation within the park into a process within the working area, greatly reducing management difficulties and manufacturing cycles.
Musk likened the Texas factory to a highly integrated SoC chip that inputs materials and outputs finished cars:
In addition, the entire factory roof is covered with Tesla’s solar panels, providing power to the entire factory. As to whether all the electricity needs can be met, Musk did not say.
Musk describes this factory as a complex product in itself, where “machines produce machines,” featuring the most automated production lines in the world, the largest integrated die-casting equipment, and the most environmentally friendly painting workshops, among others.
In short, it’s futuristic and punk.
What role does the Texas factory play in the Tesla system?
Musk said the Texas factory is the first step toward Tesla’s future, accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. Specifically, it will produce the Model Y and Cybertruck in large quantities, at least for the North American market.
Before this factory went into production, the Model Y’s largest production base was in Shanghai, which not only supplied the Chinese market but also exported to Europe and North America.
As we all know, Musk’s philosophy is “local production, local delivery,” which is the most cost-effective way.
Interestingly, when the Cybertruck was unveiled, the audience shouted “smash the glass” in objection, but Musk teased them a bit and eventually did not go through with it.
Musk promises that next year, Cybertruck deliveries can begin, with large-scale production also highly likely.
Bring sexy back~
One more thing
By the way, Musk’s big event this time wasn’t just because the new factory opened.
As the Texas factory enters full swing, Tesla’s global headquarters move from Silicon Valley, California to Austin, Texas. Musk himself adapted to local customs, dressed in cowboy attire, and had a great time all night.The whole event was awesome. Here are some pictures for you to feel it:
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This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.