Tesla makes way for improvements at space-confined Fremont Factory

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Tesla is making way for improvements and potentially new manufacturing space at the space-confined Fremont Factory, new filings reveal.

Tesla submitted numerous filings over the past week that hinted toward factory improvements in the way of new tooling installments. Still, there have also been indications that the automaker is making room for other projects on the second floor, where its battery manufacturing projects occur.

Both filings from April 21 describe different projects that Tesla is performing at Fremont. The company filed for a tool installation on the first floor, where vehicle assembly occurs. Tesla filed to install new electrical receptacles on the first floor.

Additionally, the Fremont Factory is undergoing some rejuvenation regarding where things are located. Tesla is moving its industrial vehicles and chargers to another location, looking to make more room on the second floor. This filing is listed as “Equipment Space Moves.”

Last year, Teslarati revealed battery pack manufacturing was taking place on that floor, and with the project expanding, Tesla could be looking for additional room.

tesla fremont

(Credit: Tesla)

We revealed that Tesla was manufacturing Cybertruck battery packs on the Fremont Factory’s second floor. It is unclear if this is the only place Tesla is manufacturing Cybertruck packs. However, with the Cybertruck moving closer to production, Tesla could need the additional room for pack manufacturing as they will be shipped to Texas, where the all-electric pickup is being produced.

Tesla outgrowing Fremont

The Fremont Factory was Tesla’s initial production facility. As Tesla has expanded manufacturing, it has essentially outgrown the factory, which has forced the automaker to scramble and adapt.

As Tesla grew production of the Model 3 and Model Y, the company used sprung structures as temporary manufacturing spaces. These have since become permanent.

However, Tesla is even still struggling to have enough room at the Northern California facility. CEO Elon Musk said Tesla has considered expanding the plant, but a tour Morgan Stanley took early last year indicated the company had simply outgrown the space.

Analyst Adam Jonas said:

“The plant was never designed to produce 450k units (at its peak produced ~300k units before Tesla took it over from Toyota) which was immediately apparent at the tour. Tesla does not shy away from the fact the plant is inefficiently designed with 4 assembly buildings, one of which is a tent that cars are assembled in.”

Jonas also indicated the Fremont Factory’s lack of space “was notable and provides little space for trucks to drop off supplies in locations that make sense inside the plant.”

Tesla continues to improve the Fremont Factory with frequent filings. Be sure to check back to Teslarati for additional updates on Fremont.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla makes way for improvements at space-confined Fremont Factory

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Tesla Cybertruck gets stern take from Jim Cramer: “the Ugliest truck”

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The Tesla Cybertruck may be one of the most highly-anticipated vehicles this year, but it doesn’t mean to say that the all-electric pickup truck’s polarizing design is now universally acclaimed. Wall Street veteran Jim Cramer, for example, has noted that the Cybertruck would likely end up simply being a “toy” for Elon Musk’s ardent fans. 

The Cybertruck’s upcoming production was highlighted strongly by Tesla in its Q1 2023 Update Letter, with the company posting several images of the vehicle’s production line in Giga Texas. Elon Musk also confirmed during the first quarter earnings call that the Cybertruck will have a dedicated delivery event in Q3. Overall, the Cybertruck is definitely coming, and it’s coming soon.

But as per Mad Money host Jim Cramer during an episode of CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, he doesn’t really expect many car buyers to get much value from the Cybertruck. “I’m calling it a toy for Elon Musk fanboys,” Cramer noted, stating that the vehicle will probably be like a Lamborghini, costing too much and having a battery that’s too large. 

Cramer was also pretty open about his criticism of the Cybertruck’s design, noting that it was “hideous” and the “ugliest truck I’ve ever seen.” “This thing is ugly. I’m sorry, and I love Tesla, by the way,” Cramer said. The Mad Money host’s statement is quite accurate, as Cramer has adopted a pretty positive outlook on Tesla in recent years. During the company’s early days, the Wall Street veteran was among Tesla’s skeptics. 

Quite interestingly, Cramer noted that the Cybertruck will probably not be as appealing to the average truck buyer since people that buy pickups would like to use their vehicles as working units. The Wall Street veteran noted that pickup truck buyers want something that can carry the occasional tree branches and the like. Cybertruck consumers would probably not want to do that. 

Despite Cramer’s reservations about the Cybertruck, however, Tesla has been pretty clear about the idea of the all-electric pickup truck being a vehicle that can be used for legitimate, actual hard work. This is one of the reasons why the vehicle is made with steel and designed with an exoskeleton in mind, as such innovations make the Cybertruck robust and durable. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla Cybertruck gets stern take from Jim Cramer: “the Ugliest truck”

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Tesla offers Model S and Model X customers amazing new incentive

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Tesla is now offering free charging to Model S and Model X buyers, following the introduction of another incentive for current Tesla owners.

Tesla’s recent shift in pricing strategy has been quite chaotic. Since the start of this year, the automaker has introduced six separate price cuts and, most recently, a price increase on the Model S and Model X. However, for new Model S and X customers, the company has introduced a new incentive, which more than makes up for the recent price increase.

The new incentive, free supercharging for three years, was first discovered at the end of the week as an incentive for owners to upgrade from older vehicles with unlimited free supercharging. But now, as reported by the Kilowatts on Twitter, that incentive is also being extended to new Model S and Model X customers as well.

As a growing number of people have gotten to enjoy the benefits of free supercharging, showing them how much money they can save over an entire year, this incentive has proved incredibly powerful. And even for those who have never owned an electric car, the prospect of not paying for “fuel” costs for three years is a fantastic opportunity.

However, it should be noted that this benefit is being introduced precisely because of how good free supercharging is. Some of the earliest Teslas ever sold were given access to unlimited free Supercharging, and ever since, the automaker has been working on getting customers to give it up. Though it remains unclear how successful it has been.

Tesla is far from the only automaker looking to incentivize customers with charging deals like this. However, it is certainly the only one with access to its own charging grid, the Supercharging Network.

Currently, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and even General Motors are offering customers free or reduced rate charging with notable partners, including Chargepoint, Electrify America, and many more. However, none have yet to introduce an incentive as aggressive as three years of free charging.

With increasing competition within the EV segment, automakers may need to increase the number and value of incentives like these to attract customers, especially in the United States, where Tesla remains dominant in the market.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

Tesla offers Model S and Model X customers amazing new incentive

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