Satellites reveal Tesla's 'secret' about megafactory in China

Images published by the Chinese media show how it was built in record time, just seven months

Photo by: carnewschina

By: Eleonora Lilli

Jan 5, 2025 at 4:14am ET

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Just seven months of work and one of Tesla's largest factories has sprung up in China: 200,000 square metres where Megapack energy storage batteries are produced, destined to be used in cars assembled in China as well as abroad. But how did Elon Musk achieve this in such a short time?

When we published the news a few days ago, the question was apparent. Now someone has provided the answer. As we read in CarNewsChina, the 'secret' of this huge factory in Shanghai is revealed by satellite images published by Fast Technology.

From May to December

Tesla started work on the mega-factory in Shanghai on 23 May 2024. On 27 December of the same year, after just seven months, the end of construction and the start of test production was announced. The construction of the plant set a new 'Tesla speed' record in China, as the brand's first plant in Shanghai was built in one year, in 2019.

Chinese media have been following the start of the test production at the factory very closely and here are satellite images showing the work progressing step by step.

Tesla megafactory in Shanghai

Photo by: Car News China

The Tesla Megapack

The Megafactory is located in the same area of Shanghai as the Gigafactory that produces the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y and is dedicated to the batteries that will be used to build Tesla Megapacks in China, based on cells with lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry.

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When fully operational, 10,000 Megapacks per year will be produced, equivalent to 40 GWh of energy storage capacity. To do this, the company has invested around 1.45 billion yuan ($202 million) in the plant.

Tesla has signed its first Megapack orders with the Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Group and mass production will begin in the first quarter of 2025.