Announced in 2014 and built near Sparks, Nevada, Gigafactory Nevada was Tesla's first Gigafactory, developed jointly with Panasonic to produce lithium-ion battery cells at a scale intended to drive down cost per kilowatt-hour through economies of scale.[1][2] Beyond cells, the site also assembles battery packs and drive units, and separately produces Tesla's Powerwall home-battery product and, more recently, the Tesla Semi truck.[2][3]
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At a Glance
Tesla's Gigafactories are large-scale manufacturing sites built to produce batteries, vehicles and energy products at a scale the company argued was necessary to bring electric-vehicle costs down. Starting with a battery plant near Reno, Nevada announced in 2014, the network expanded to Shanghai (2019), Berlin-Brandenburg (2022) and Texas (2022), each taking on a distinct role — from batteries and Powerwalls, to Model 3/Y and Megapack production, to Cybertruck and Optimus manufacturing. A planned solar-cell factory in Texas, and additional Megapack-focused facilities, have extended the Gigafactory concept beyond vehicles into Tesla's broader energy business.
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Gigafactory Nevada
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Gigafactory Shanghai
Gigafactory Shanghai, approved in 2018 and producing vehicles from late 2019, was Tesla's first factory outside the United States and the first wholly foreign-owned car factory in China.[3][4] It builds Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, primarily for the Chinese and broader Asia-Pacific markets, and reached a milestone of six million battery packs produced by 2026, reflecting the scale of its output.[4]
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Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg
Announced in 2019 and delivering its first vehicles in March 2022, Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg is Tesla's European manufacturing hub, building Model Y vehicles for European customers and, over time, adding battery-cell and powertrain component production on-site.[4][5] The factory has periodically faced local opposition over water use and environmental permitting given its location near a forested area outside Berlin.[5]
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Gigafactory Texas
Construction began in 2020 near Austin, and Gigafactory Texas held its grand opening in April 2022, also serving as Tesla's corporate headquarters after the company relocated from California.[4][5] The Texas site produces Model Y vehicles, the Cybertruck, and the purpose-built Cybercab robotaxi, and has also become a manufacturing hub for the Optimus humanoid robot as Tesla scales robot production alongside vehicles.[5]
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Beyond Cars: Megapack and Solar
Tesla has extended the Gigafactory model to dedicated energy-storage facilities, including a large Megapack factory in Lathrop, California, and a newer Megapack 3 plant near Brookshire, Texas, together giving Tesla roughly 80 gigawatt-hours of combined annual Megapack production capacity.[5] Separately, Tesla has announced plans for a roughly $10.1 billion solar-cell manufacturing plant in Texas, dubbed "Project Crystal Sun," extending Gigafactory-scale manufacturing into Tesla's solar business.[5]
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References
- 1Wikipedia, List of Tesla factories, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 2Tesla Investor Relations, Tesla, Inc. investor information and filings, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 3Manufacturing Digital, Timeline: Tesla's Construction of Gigafactories, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 4All Things Elon, Giga Shanghai Builds Its 6 Millionth Battery Pack as Exports Surge, accessed on September 26, 2026.
- 5All Things Elon, Tesla Plans $10.1B 'Project Crystal Sun' Solar Plant in Texas, accessed on September 26, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many Gigafactories does Tesla have?
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Four major vehicle- and battery-focused Gigafactories — Nevada, Shanghai, Berlin-Brandenburg and Texas — plus additional dedicated energy-storage plants for Megapack production and a planned solar-cell factory.
What does Gigafactory Nevada make?
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Battery cells and packs (originally with Panasonic), drive units, Powerwall home batteries, and the Tesla Semi truck.
What is unique about Gigafactory Shanghai?
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It was Tesla's first factory outside the United States and the first wholly foreign-owned car factory in China, producing Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
What does Gigafactory Texas produce?
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Model Y vehicles, the Cybertruck, the Cybercab robotaxi, and — increasingly — the Optimus humanoid robot. It also serves as Tesla's corporate headquarters.
Has Tesla built factories beyond cars and batteries?
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Yes. It operates dedicated Megapack energy-storage factories in California and Texas and has announced a planned solar-cell manufacturing plant in Texas.