Tesla produced 305,840 cars in Q4 2021, and the automaker said this was achieved partly by record production from its factory in Fremont, California.
The automaker said Q4 “saw a continuation of global supply chain, transportation, labor and other manufacturing challenges, limiting our ability to run our factories at full capacity.”
While Tesla states its California factory can produce 100,000 Model S/X and 500,000 Model 3/Y vehicles annually, the automaker believes more is possible.
“Fremont factory achieved record production in 2021,” said Tesla. “We believe there is potential to extend overall capacity beyond 600,000 per year. We aim to maximize output from our Fremont factory while ramping new factories,” added the automaker.
Tesla’s installed annual capacity at its Shanghai Gigafactory is still listed at just over 450,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles per year. The factory in China is its main export hub to Europe and other regions in Asia.
As for Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas, the automaker said it started building Model Y vehicles in late 2021. “After final certification of Austin-made Model Y, we plan to start deliveries to customers,” said Tesla. The company made no mention of 4680 cells, but did share a picture of seats being attached to a structural battery pack–which is made of its newer 4680 batteries.
In Europe, Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin-Brandenburg was testing vehicle equipment for the production process in late 2021. “We are still in the process of finalizing the manufacturing permit from local authorities, which will allow us to start delivering German-made vehicles in Europe,” said Tesla.
“These first vehicles will be built using 2170 cells,” emphasized the automaker, likely putting out expectations for European customers of what kind of batteries cars from Giga Berlin will include.
