Tesla Battery Day was anything but a flop. But somehow, numerous mainstream media outlets are claiming that Tesla’s blueprint to cheaper battery production and vehicles was underwhelming. If Battery Day was a flop to you, it is probably because you don’t understand the massive implications of what was announced.
To the casual Tesla fan who isn’t interested in how the company will increase manufacturing efficiency, but is interested in maximized performance specifications, sure, maybe it was a flop. But still, that seems like a reach because of the announcement of Tesla’s Plaid Model S, which will be the fastest variant of the company’s flagship sedan. To the people who live, breathe, eat, and sleep Tesla and its mission, the batteries and cell developments were the centerpiece, and what CEO Elon Musk announced was anything but “underwhelming.”
Tesla’s new 4680 battery cell will increase energy density by fivefold while increasing power by six-times and effectively maximizing range ratings for its upcoming vehicles. Not only that, but the tabless design is also going to increase manufacturing efficiency and decrease the cost of the batteries per kWh. Reducing this is the ultimate key to making EVs the same price as gas-powered cars.
Making cells more affordable to produce will bring the cost of Tesla’s vehicles down significantly. (Credit: Tesla)
The primary issue with these large media outlets claiming the event was a flop is that readers get information that is far from the truth. The importance of what Tesla announced on Tuesday is easily the most significant breakthrough in not only the company’s long-term plans but also the plans to accelerate the adoption of sustainable transportation.
Think about this: Tesla is already the leader in EVs. Not only is that the overall consensus of EV enthusiasts as a whole, but it also is the opinion of the companies that are trying to compete with Tesla. Volkswagen has stated that Tesla’s ten-year lead is a real issue for their push to sustainability, simply because they are so far behind on figuring out software and battery manufacturing.
But the fact that Tesla is the best electric car company in the sector and will have the most affordable vehicles is a mind-blowing development. Could one imagine if Gucci was less expensive than Abercrombie? The quality and prestige of Tesla are comparable to this analogy. Higher quality and a better product, but with a less expensive price tag.
Ultimately, Tesla showed its entire plans to not only decrease the cost of its cars through battery production but also through design. The blueprint that Musk and Drew Baglino showed to the public proved that the company has a plan to make its cars more affordable while increasing safety. The design and architecture of the new battery pack showed this development.
Understanding the massive developments of Battery Day is not something that a casual fan will really understand. New battery? Big deal. Cheaper costs? They all say that. A new car? Who cares!
The problem is that everything Tesla announced the other day is a big step in the right direction for EVs as a whole, and not just for Tesla. Widespread EV adoption is one way that sustainability can be embraced, which will ultimately help the Earth’s climate in the long-term.
If Battery Day didn’t impress you, it’s okay. But the fact is, you just don’t get it. Nothing about the event was a minor development, nor was it a flop. Tesla has a plan, and it is already in effect with the automaker producing the cells at a pilot facility in Fremont.
Before claiming that the event was underwhelming, understand how significant what was announced is for the future.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk denies Starlink’s price cuts are due to Amazon Kuiper
“This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we’re just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Elon Musk has pushed back on claims that Starlink’s recent price reductions are tied to Amazon’s Kuiper project.
In a post on X, Musk responded directly to a report suggesting that Starlink was cutting prices and offering free hardware to partners ahead of a planned IPO and increased competition from Kuiper.
“This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we’re just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience,” Musk wrote in a post on X. “The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don’t have much money, especially in the developing world.”
The speculation originated from a post summarizing a report from The Information, which ran with the headline “SpaceX’s Starlink Makes Land Grab as Amazon Threat Looms.” The report stated that SpaceX is aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners, which was interpreted as a reaction to Amazon’s Kuiper’s upcoming rollout and possible IPO.
In a way, Musk’s comments could be quite accurate considering Starlink’s current scale. The constellation currently has more than 9,700 satellites in operation today, making it by far the largest satellite broadband network in operation. It has also managed to grow its user base to 10 million active customers across more than 150 countries worldwide.
Amazon’s Kuiper, by comparison, has launched approximately 211 satellites to date, as per data from SatelliteMap.Space, some of which were launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Starlink surpassed that number in early January 2020, during the early buildout of its first-generation network.
Lower pricing also aligns with Starlink’s broader expansion strategy. SpaceX continues to deploy satellites at a rapid pace using Falcon 9, and future launches aboard Starship are expected to significantly accelerate the constellation’s growth. A larger network improves capacity and global coverage, which can support a broader customer base.
In that context, price reductions can be viewed as a way to match expanding supply with growing demand. Musk’s companies have historically used aggressive pricing strategies to drive adoption at scale, particularly when vertical integration allows costs to decline over time.
News
Tesla Giga Berlin makes a statement of solidarity amid IG Metall conflict
The display comes as tensions between Tesla and IG Metall continue to escalate.
Tesla Giga Berlin is sending a strong message of solidarity amid its ongoing legal dispute with German union IG Metall.
In a post on social media platform X, Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig shared an image of the facility’s lobby covered with a large banner that reads: “Progress. Innovation. Success.” He added that the slogan reflects what the facility has stood for since Day One.
“Our lobby at Giga Berlin covered in a huge banner these days. Progress. Innovation. Success – this is what we stand for since we started production in 2022 and how we will go into our future!” Thierig wrote in his post on X.
The display comes as tensions between Tesla and IG Metall continue to escalate.
The dispute began after Tesla accused a union representative of secretly recording a works council meeting at Giga Berlin. Tesla stated that it filed a criminal complaint after the alleged incident. Police later confirmed they had seized a computer belonging to an IG Metall member as part of their investigation.
“What has happened today at Giga Berlin is truly beyond words! An external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting. For unknown reasons he recorded the internal meeting and was caught in action! We obviously called police and filed a criminal complaint!” Thierig wrote on X at the time.
IG Metall denied the accusation and characterized Tesla’s move as an election tactic ahead of upcoming works council elections. The union subsequently filed a defamation complaint against Thierig. Authorities later confirmed that an investigation had been opened in connection with the matter.
Giga Berlin began production in 2022 and has since become one of Tesla’s key European manufacturing hubs, producing the Model Y, the company’s best-selling vehicle. The facility has expanded capacity over the past years despite environmental protests, labor disputes, and regulatory scrutiny.
Energy
Tesla Megapack Megafactory in Texas advances with major property sale
Stream Realty Partners announced the sale of Buildings 9 and 10 at the Empire West industrial park, which total 1,655,523 square feet.
Tesla’s planned Megapack factory in Brookshire, Texas has taken a significant step forward, as two massive industrial buildings fully leased to the company were sold to an institutional investor.
In a press release, Stream Realty Partners announced the sale of Buildings 9 and 10 at the Empire West industrial park, which total 1,655,523 square feet. The properties are 100% leased to Tesla under a long-term agreement and were acquired by BGO on behalf of an institutional investor.
The two facilities, located at 100 Empire Boulevard in Brookshire, Texas, will serve as Tesla’s new Megafactory dedicated to manufacturing Megapack battery systems.
According to local filings previously reported, Tesla plans to invest nearly $200 million into the site. The investment includes approximately $44 million in facility upgrades such as electrical, utility, and HVAC improvements, along with roughly $150 million in manufacturing equipment.
Building 9, spanning roughly 1 million square feet, will function as the primary manufacturing floor where Megapacks are assembled. Building 10, covering approximately 600,000 square feet, will be dedicated to warehousing and logistics operations, supporting storage and distribution of completed battery systems.
Waller County Commissioners have approved a 10-year tax abatement agreement with Tesla, offering up to a 60% property-tax reduction if the company meets hiring and investment targets. Tesla has committed to employing at least 375 people by the end of 2026, increasing to 1,500 by the end of 2028, as noted in an Austin County News Online report.
The Brookshire Megafactory will complement Tesla’s Lathrop Megafactory in California and expand U.S. production capacity for the utility-scale energy storage unit. Megapacks are designed to support grid stabilization and renewable-energy integration, a segment that has become one of Tesla’s fastest-growing businesses.
Elon Musk denies Starlink’s price cuts are due to Amazon Kuiper
Tesla Giga Berlin makes a statement of solidarity amid IG Metall conflict
