Less than two months after reaching the mass-production phase, Tesla is already preparing to upgrade the Model Y production line. The upgrades will allow Tesla to eliminate swing shifts while increasing the production pace. The Model Y production line will be halted for five days to implement the changes starting next week.
Tesla wanted Giga Texas to be its most advanced production facility, where cutting-edge processes and technologies were supposed to be implemented first. The Model Y produced in Austin does indeed feature 4680 cells and a structural battery, but the low yields of 4680 cells have made Giga Texas lag behind its Berlin sister.
Last August, Elon Musk was confident that Giga Texas would reach the 5,000-unit-per-week milestone by the end of the year. Instead, the event was celebrated five months later, on May 10, 2023. This reflects a slower ramp-up than Giga Berlin, which already had its fair share of delays.
The reason for the delays at Giga Texas could be the 4680 battery cell production issues. The 5,000-unit weekly production is considered the threshold of mass production. Both Giga Texas and Giga Berlin aim to double that number by the end of 2023, for a total of 500,000 vehicles annual capacity. A recent report shows that Tesla will upgrade the Model Y production line to accelerate production ramp-up.
The information is interesting, considering that Giga Texas has barely started production. Tesla enthusiast and drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer found from various sources and his own observations that the Model Y production line will be paused for upgrades beginning next week. The downtime is expected to last approximately five days, but it would be worth it.
According to Tegtmeyer's sources, the upgrades will allow Tesla to switch away from swing shifts. This should be a popular change for employees, especially as productivity would not be affected. Personnel formerly on the swing shift will be relocated to the Cybertruck production line, which is in the midst of testing and calibrating. This should continue throughout July and into early August, in time for the planned Cybertruck production start.
The Tesla Model Y production line upgrade will be followed by a slower production pace as the employees are trained on the new equipment. It should recover rapidly, though, and lead to more Model Y vehicles produced per unit of time. Tesla aimed for 10,000 vehicles per week until the end of the year, but this was before the upgrade. Considering that Giga Texas was already behind schedule, the change should allow it to reach this target earlier.
Another interesting piece of information Tegtmeyer offers is that Tesla is building a new production facility in Kyle, TX, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Giga Texas. Tesla will produce seats and possibly other parts for the Model Y and the Cybertruck there. For now, there's no information about when the facility will begin production.
Last August, Elon Musk was confident that Giga Texas would reach the 5,000-unit-per-week milestone by the end of the year. Instead, the event was celebrated five months later, on May 10, 2023. This reflects a slower ramp-up than Giga Berlin, which already had its fair share of delays.
The reason for the delays at Giga Texas could be the 4680 battery cell production issues. The 5,000-unit weekly production is considered the threshold of mass production. Both Giga Texas and Giga Berlin aim to double that number by the end of 2023, for a total of 500,000 vehicles annual capacity. A recent report shows that Tesla will upgrade the Model Y production line to accelerate production ramp-up.
The information is interesting, considering that Giga Texas has barely started production. Tesla enthusiast and drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer found from various sources and his own observations that the Model Y production line will be paused for upgrades beginning next week. The downtime is expected to last approximately five days, but it would be worth it.
According to Tegtmeyer's sources, the upgrades will allow Tesla to switch away from swing shifts. This should be a popular change for employees, especially as productivity would not be affected. Personnel formerly on the swing shift will be relocated to the Cybertruck production line, which is in the midst of testing and calibrating. This should continue throughout July and into early August, in time for the planned Cybertruck production start.
The Tesla Model Y production line upgrade will be followed by a slower production pace as the employees are trained on the new equipment. It should recover rapidly, though, and lead to more Model Y vehicles produced per unit of time. Tesla aimed for 10,000 vehicles per week until the end of the year, but this was before the upgrade. Considering that Giga Texas was already behind schedule, the change should allow it to reach this target earlier.
Another interesting piece of information Tegtmeyer offers is that Tesla is building a new production facility in Kyle, TX, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Giga Texas. Tesla will produce seats and possibly other parts for the Model Y and the Cybertruck there. For now, there's no information about when the facility will begin production.
Want some interesting Giga Texas updates & information? This is assembled from various channels & a few observations I've made.
— Joe Tegtmeyer ???? ???????? (@JoeTegtmeyer) June 28, 2023
Model Y production will be paused for line upgrades in the beginning of July. The period of down time is scheduled to last approximately 5 days.
Giga…