Bringing cathode production in-house is a quieter autonomy milestone: it should help scale Cybercab supply while tightening control over the full stack. The manufacturing flywheel matters as much as the vehicle itself.
So proud of Tesla! It’s the only large-scale lithium battery cathode production in the Americas. As one of the most expensive pieces of a cell, cathode production cuts supplier markup and keeps more of the supply chain in the U.S. for Tesla products.
still have to laugh when I hear that Tesla will have competition...good luck to those in search of another company as maniacally focused on it's components right down to the raw materials
A cathode plant needs property insurance on the equipment and product liability insurance on the batteries. I have quoted two of these accounts in the last year and both insurance companies came back with an exclusion for anything that catches fire. That is most of the plant.
The harder part to copy is the feedback loop: cathode chemistry, cell production, vehicle efficiency, and fleet data all improve in the same factory system. That compounds faster than a better-shaped taxi.
All of them should be very proud of their accomplishments 💪 They were making history! This is a chapter in the future of automation that will be remembered forever 💪🌠🌹
Vertical manufacturing only matters when it turns into repeatable throughput. The plant is a visible milestone; the next proof is consistent quality and delivery at scale.
