Tesla opens new Gigafactory in Texas to boost production of Model Y and Cybertruck
Tesla opened its new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, on April 7, 2022, with a grand opening event called the “Cyber Rodeo,” according to company officials. The 2,500-acre facility is designed to boost production of the Model Y and serve as the manufacturing hub for the upcoming Cybertruck, supporting Tesla’s expansion in the U.S. market.
Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas in Austin spans 2,500 acres along the Colorado River and features over 10 million square feet of factory floor space, according to the company’s official description. Tesla officials said the plant aims to produce at least 500,000 vehicles annually by the end of 2023, with plans to ramp up production by about 50% each year. The factory is expected to employ up to 10,000 workers over time, with entry-level salaries starting at $35,000 and an average salary of $47,147, according to Assembly Magazine.
The facility is designed to serve as the primary manufacturing hub for the Model Y crossover SUV and the upcoming Cybertruck pickup.
Tesla held an invitation-only grand opening event called the “Cyber Rodeo” on April 7, 2022, which was scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to midnight and expected to draw up to 15,000 guests, local reports said. The event marked a milestone in Tesla’s transition to a new manufacturing hub in Texas. Local news outlets described the facility as located in Del Valle, Texas, approximately five miles east of downtown Austin on Harold Green Road, with the official address listed as 13101 Tesla Road, Austin.
Production of the Model Y began at the Austin plant before the grand opening, with reports from Edmunds and The Verge indicating limited production had started by late 2021. Tesla has identified the Model Y as the initial core vehicle produced at the site, primarily intended to supply customers in the Eastern United States. The company’s website continues to emphasize the Model Y as a central product of Gigafactory Texas.
The plant is also widely recognized as the future home of the Cybertruck. Multiple sources, including Forbes and Spectrum Local News, reported that Tesla plans to begin Cybertruck production at the Texas facility in 2023. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, confirmed during the opening event that the plant would eventually manufacture the Cybertruck and other models as production scales up. Tesla’s official page refers to Gigafactory Texas as the “home of Cybertruck.”
Construction of the factory began in July 2020, according to local coverage, and the site has since become Tesla’s largest production facility and new corporate headquarters, as reported by Edmunds. The move to Texas also represents Tesla’s departure from California, with NBC DFW noting that the company has established its new home in Austin. Forbes described the facility as the largest factory in the nation by area at the time of its opening.
Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas is the company’s fourth U.S. factory, joining other major plants in California and Nevada, as well as international facilities in Shanghai and Berlin. Industry reports have framed the opening as part of Tesla’s broader effort to expand production capacity to meet rising demand for electric vehicles. According to Edmunds, the combined output from the Texas and Berlin factories is expected to nearly double Tesla’s annual production capacity.
The Austin facility’s strategic location along the Colorado River and its vast size are intended to support Tesla’s long-term production goals. The company anticipates that the factory will play a key role in meeting demand for the Model Y and launching the Cybertruck, which has faced delays in production. Tesla’s ongoing investment in Gigafactory Texas reflects its commitment to expanding manufacturing capabilities within the United States.
