Tesla Is Reportedly Doubling Production at Giga Texas
Drone footage reveals added night shifts as the Austin factory prepares for potential Cybercab and Model Y L ramp-ups.
Tesla appears to be significantly scaling up manufacturing operations at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. According to recent reports, the company is doubling production capacity by introducing overnight shifts, a move that could support increased output for both its autonomous Cybercab and the Model Y L.
What Happened
Drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer, who has documented the Austin facility since its construction began, stated in a recent update that Tesla is adding a night shift to keep production lines running around the clock. Visual evidence from Tegtmeyer’s latest flyover shows the factory’s outbound lots filled with rows of gold Cybercabs. The reported schedule involves two 12-hour shifts, though the exact operational structure remains unconfirmed by Tesla. Neither the company nor its executives have officially verified the shift changes or specified which vehicle models will benefit from the additional capacity.
Why It Matters
The potential production increase aligns with two major operational pressures facing Tesla. First, the company is preparing for a broader rollout of its Robotaxi service. While the Cybercab production line was recently described as outpacing deployment needs, Tesla has over 300 Cybercabs operating in Austin and has expanded unsupervised rides to Fort Worth and Dallas. With plans to deliver customer-owned Cybercabs by year-end, increased manufacturing throughput is necessary to meet future demand. Second, the added capacity may help address the backlog for the six-seat Model Y L. Although deliveries began in September as planned, some orders have faced delays of three to four months, with new buyers currently facing delivery windows in early 2027. Tesla has also cited Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a key driver of demand, further straining current production limits.
The Bottom Line
Tesla has not yet confirmed the night shift addition or the specific allocation of the extra output. Investors and customers may gain clarity on the production ramp-up during Tesla’s upcoming shareholder meeting on December 3, or when the company releases its Q4 delivery numbers in early January.
