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Elon Musk’s Tesla ‘Alien Dreadnought’ factory is coming to form–just not where critics expect it

The Tesla Model Y body shop in Fremont, CA. (Credit: Tesla)

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6 years ago

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There are many aspects of the Tesla ecosystem and Elon Musk’s past forecasts that critics love to attack. Among the most notable of these is the CEO’s vision of an “Alien Dreadnought” factory, an electric car production facility that is so automated, it resembles the extraterrestrial machines depicted in pop culture. Contrary to what critics today would say, Tesla’s hyper-automated factory is actually coming to form — it’s just not where it was initially expected to be.

Elon Musk’s Alien Dreadnought concept was initially intended for the production of the Model 3. Perhaps this is the reason why Musk originally announced an incredibly aggressive timeframe for the all-electric sedan’s ramp. Those who have followed the Tesla story over the past few years would know that the dreadnought did not come to pass. As issues mounted and delays became more prominent in the Model 3 ramp, Tesla and Elon Musk were forced to abandon the idea and instead adopt a manufacturing system that uses machines and people.

The Fremont factory continues to function in this manner until today. Just recently, Tesla critics were discussing how much Tesla is failing since it still maintains its sprung structure-based GF4 line. Others mocked the fact that some Model Y were getting accessories such as floormats installed on the grounds of the Fremont factory. While some criticism is warranted considering that Elon Musk’s Alien Dreadnought factory is yet to pass in its main vehicle plant, one thing is conveniently forgotten by critics: the Fremont factory is not the only Tesla facility that’s producing vehicles today.

The Tesla Fremont factory. (Credit: Tesla)

Over in China, Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai is now back to full operations. And true to its reputation, the facility’s buildout continues to be insanely quick. The production of the Made-in-China Model 3 is already ongoing, with recent reports stating that around 3,000 units of the all-electric sedan are being manufactured every week. The construction of the Phase 2 zone, widely considered to be a facility intended for Model Y production, is also continuing at a rapid pace. Based on the way Gigafactory Shanghai is designed and the way that it’s ramping, it appears that the facility is well on its way towards becoming the first of Elon Musk’s Alien Dreadnought factories.

One thing that may be worth considering is the fact that the Fremont factory was not designed by Tesla. The California-based car factory’s history dates as far back as 1962, when it operated as the General Motors Fremont Assembly site until 1982, when it was closed. The plant was reopened in 1984 as the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) plant, a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors, where it continued to produce vehicles until 2010. Tesla later bought the factory to produce the Model S sedan, a decision that was panned by critics then as an unnecessary expense.

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The NUMMI Plant. (Credit: Ellen Levy Finch)

With this in mind, it could be said that Tesla was not able to start with a blank canvas for its electric car production activities in the Fremont factory. The facility was constructed with conventional car making in mind, and Tesla essentially had to adapt its processes to the factory’s layout. Elon Musk’s admitted hubris aside, it would be quite a challenging endeavor to convert an automotive factory that was initially opened in 1962 into a hyper-automated, futuristic electric vehicle manufacturing machine. These challenges do not exist in Gigafactory Shanghai.

For its China-based site, Tesla was able to design a factory that’s optimized from the ground up for EV production. A look at the activities in the Phase 1 building would show that the site has notable similarities with the Fremont factory’s “tent-based” GA4 line, with its straightforward production process and its easy access to supply trucks. In a way, Gigafactory Shanghai’s Phase 1 zone is GA4 on steroids, and it seems to be working very well so far. With Gigafactory 3 now running, and with the facility’s Model Y production site coming to form, Tesla now has another opportunity to pursue Elon Musk’s Alien Dreadnought idea. But this time around, the company will be attempting the concept from a blank slate. And that might make all the difference.

The Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai complex has of April 2020. (Credit: Wuwa Vision/YouTube)

The signs are already there. Recent drone flyovers in the Gigafactory Shanghai site show deep excavations connected to the Phase 1 building’s stamping area. Tesla has not revealed that the area is intended for, though speculations among the electric car community suggest that the location may host the company’s giant casting machine, which is designed to make vehicles easier to produce.

Elon Musk and Tesla have teased that the massive casting machine will be used for the Model Y, but the company may be looking to adopt such a technique for the Made-in-China Model 3 as well. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Considering that it’s working with a blank canvas in Gigafactory Shanghai, Tesla can explore and develop automated vehicle production processes that would make the facility deserving of Musk’s Alien Dreadnought title.

Ultimately, it may not be too long before Tesla critics would have to swallow yet another bitter pill. Elon Musk’s Alien Dreadnought concept lives on, and while it may not be starting at the Fremont Factory as initially intended, there is very little that could stop the electric car maker from adopting the idea in facilities beyond Gigafactory Shanghai. Gigafactory Berlin will undoubtedly be incredibly automated as well, and there’s a good chance the Cybertruck Gigafactory will be too.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla owner attempts resale of Model S Signature Edition for over $260k

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3 hours ago

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July 14, 2026

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Credit: Tesla

A Tesla owner who purchased a Model S Signature Edition, one of the final 250 units of the all-electric flagship vehicle that the company discontinued earlier this year, is attempting to sell the car despite a no-resale clause that prohibits reselling for the first year.

The car is being sold by J&S Autohaus in Ewing, New Jersey, and is priced at $260,490, well above the $159,420 that Tesla sold it for earlier this year.

To those who do not know, the Model S Signature was a highly exclusive, limited-run farewell variant of the Model S Plaid that was produced this year to mark the end of production of both the Model S and Model X, Tesla’s two flagship vehicles.

Limited to just 250 units with invite-only sales, it serves as a collector’s item celebrating the legacy of the Model S, which helped pioneer Tesla’s electric vehicle success since its 2012 launch.

It bundles top-tier performance with bespoke cosmetic and luxury upgrades, plus Tesla’s Luxe Package. Here’s what the Model S Signature has over the typical Model S Plaid:

  • Exclusive Exterior – Unique Garnet Red Paint, matching door handles, gold Tesla “T” badges upfront, gold Plaid and Signature badging at the rear.
  • Premium Interior – White Alcantara upholstery with gold piping/accents, gold Plaid seat badges, Signature-marked door sills, individually numbered dashboard plaque, gold puddle lights, special interior lighting sequence, and a custom Signature key fob.
  • Performance Upgrades – Carbon-ceramic brakes with gold calipers
  • Bundled Luxe Package – Full Self-Driving (Supervised), four years of Premium Connectivity, free lifetime Supercharging
  • Performance Metrics – ~1,020 horsepower, sub-2-second 0-60 MPH, ~390-mile range

Tesla quickly introduced a No Resale Agreement for the Signature Editions of the Model S and Model X, which would penalize the seller for “the amount of $50,000 or the value received as consideration for the sale or transfer, whichever is greater.”

The company continues:

“If you sell or otherwise transfer the ownership of your Model S or Model X, the remainder of the Recommended Maintenance, Wheel and Tire Protection Plan, and Windshield Protection Plan will transfer automatically to the buyer. The Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Free Supercharging and Premium Connectivity will not transfer with the vehicle and will terminate once the ownership of the Model S or Model X is transferred.”

Tesla will likely come after the seller, especially as it has been about two months since Tesla launched deliveries.

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Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.3.5 Early Impressions: new features and early performance

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7 hours ago

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July 14, 2026

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Credit: TESLARATI

Tesla rolled out Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.3.5 yesterday, and about fifty miles of driving on the new version has given me enough time to highlight what seems to be strong about the release and what is not.

Additionally, Tesla has added a few new features with this specific update, which we’ll highlight as well.

Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.3.5 Performance

The new update is business as usual. Things seem to be running completely normal and necessary, but there are a few things that we’ve seemed to pick up on based on our own experience with v14.3.5, as well as what other users are seeing.

Initially, it seems to be more aware of its surroundings, making moves that are incredibly courteous to other drives and operating just a tad more reserved than what the suite might have done previously.

We had two instances where it showed this, the first being FSD needing to pass a Flagger Force vehicle that was placing down signage for the day. Their work truck was right at the front corner of a right-hand turn; typically where most cars travel when they take that turn.

FSD v14.3.5 recognized this, slowed down, and took the turn wide with no issues:

Additionally, v14.3.5 backed up for a semi truck that was making a wide turn onto a road my car was on. This is not new, but it seemed to be backing up for courtesy; it didn’t seem completely necessary, but it might have put some peace of mind in the truck driver’s head:

X user Mike P, also a Pennsylvania native like myself, shared three clips of his Tesla running v14.3.5 performing similar maneuvers. He said:

“FSD turns right into a small alley that only fits one car at a time, sees oncoming car, reverses out of alley to make space, realizes oncoming car is actually parking, re-enters alley.”
Check it out here:

It seems like Speed Profiles are still in need of some tweaking; I am adjusting what Speed Profile I’m in frequently, constantly changing it to get it to travel at the correct speed. This was an issue for me on v14.3.4. It seems like they’re just a little inconsistent.

Terrible Parking

Parking attempts on v14.3.5 were not good. There are quite a few people who have said this:

David Moss, the Tesla owner who has taken multiple coast-to-coast drives without any interventions, also has had some issues with parking early on with v14.3.5:

New Features

Tesla has added the ability to open Camera Preview at any time. Previously, it was only available in Park. Here’s what that feature looks like in action:

Check back later this week for a longer review of what we’ve noticed on Full Self-Driving v14.3.5.

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Lifestyle

Tesla makes the cut on California’s newest EV Rebate program

California just signed a $270 million EV rebate into law and it starts this summer.

Published

12 hours ago

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July 13, 2026

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tesla fremont

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 into law on Monday, July 13, 2026, creating a $270 million EV rebate program that delivers money directly at the dealership rather than as a tax credit applied months later. The program, called MyFirstEV, is funded equally by California’s state budget and participating automakers, with each contributing $135.5 million to make the math work.

The timing is directly tied to the loss of federal support when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended, removing the most significant consumer incentive that had driven EV adoption in the U.S. California, which accounts for roughly one-third of all EVs sold nationally, moved to fill that gap with a state-level replacement.

The rebate structure is straightforward. First-time EV buyers can receive $3,500 off any new battery-electric vehicle with an MSRP up to $50,000. Used EVs priced at $25,000 or below qualify for a $1,750 rebate. The credit is applied at the point of sale, which removes the friction of the old federal system where buyers had to wait for tax season to see the benefit. The program goes live later this summer, with the California Air Resources Board expected to release full participation details next month.

California hits Tesla Cybercab and Robotaxi driverless cars with new law

For Tesla buyers, the implications are mixed. The Tesla Model 3 RWD at $42,490 and the Model 3 Long Range at $47,490 both fall under the $50,000 cap and would qualify for the full $3,500 rebate for first-time buyers. The Model Y, which starts at $44,990 after Tesla’s recent price adjustment, also qualifies. The Model X, Model S, and Cybertruck all exceed the cap and receive no benefit. As Teslarati has reported, the program also includes a carve-out exempting California-based automakers like Rivian and Lucid from the price cap entirely, a provision that puts Tesla at a disadvantage since it relocated its headquarters to Texas in 2021.

Other qualifying vehicles include the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4.

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