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Tesla files to expand Fremont factory, make Model Y ‘tent’ permanent
Tesla has filed an application with the City of Fremont to expand its vehicle production facility by 64,000 square feet. The application describes plans to implement foundations and install below-ground utilities under General Assembly 4.5 (GA 4.5), where the Model Y production lines are located at the Fremont factory.
GA 4.5 is currently a tent, or spring structure, that sits outside of Tesla’s Fremont factory. It has been home to the Model Y production and possibly the Model 3 as well since February 2020. According to past permit filings with the City of Fremont’s local government, Tesla initially opened the tent outside during this time and has added to the tent on several occasions.
Tesla’s General Assembly 4.5 line at the Fremont Factory. (Credit: Ryan Ferrin | YouTube)
Tesla is now looking to make GA 4.5 permanent by adding a 64,000 square foot structure onto the Fremont factory. The spring structure that was used before was erected in a pinch as Tesla was planning to begin the production of the Model Y but didn’t have the space for it with Model S, Model X, and Model 3 production all going on under the same roof.
The filing, known as BLD2021-05126, also called Foundations for GA 4.5 South Expansion, states:
“Foundations and underground utilities for proposed 64,000 sf south expansion.”
Credit: City of Fremont
Tesla will add GA 4.5 to the Southern portion of the Fremont factory, expanding the factory itself, and at the same time, making the 4.5 assembly lines permanent with foundational structures and underground plumbing and electrical work.
It seems that it was only a matter of time before Tesla expanded the Fremont factory to make way for more projects. While demand continues to expand globally, Tesla is still funneling many of its vehicles from the Fremont factory in Northern California. The plant handles global Model S and Model X demand, while Model 3 demand is split with Giga Shanghai. Some Model 3s from Fremont have made their way to other countries that aren’t in North America, but it seems that Giga Shanghai is taking some of the load, especially in the European market.
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Here is my understanding of the general assembly lines at Fremont:
• GA1/2 Model S/X (GA1&2 merged into a single line)
• GA3 Model 3
• GA4 Model 3 or Y (tent)
• GA4.5 Model 3 or Y (tent, under construction)
• GA5 Model 3 or Y (indoors next to GA1&2, under construction)— Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) July 5, 2020
Last year, Tesla expanded the Model Y production lines to make way for the IDRA Giga Press. This was filed in July 2020, and the Giga Press is now operational at the facility and is cranking out single-piece rear castings for the Model Y crossover. Tesla attempted to expand GA 4.5 in April but had to solve issues with stormwater drainage before the project was ultimately approved.
The Fremont factory has been in Tesla’s possession since 2010 after the company purchased it from Toyota’s New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. The first Model S rolled off the lines at Fremont in 2012, and the company has made numerous improvements to the facility since being in its possession. The expansion of the facility to make GA 4.5 permanent will alleviate space constraints, allowing Tesla to build more of its all-electric vehicles for a constantly growing and expanding consumer base.
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to Teslarati’s inquiry about the expansion.
Here’s a recent flyover of the Fremont Factory by Gabeincal.
Tesla will increase its Full Self-Driving subscription price, meaning it will eventually be more than the current $99 per month price tag it has right now.
Already stating that the ability to purchase the suite outright will be removed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said earlier this week that the Full Self-Driving subscription price would increase when its capabilities improve:
“I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve. The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD).”
This was an expected change, especially as Tesla has been hinting for some time that it is approaching a feature-complete version of Full Self-Driving that will no longer require driver supervision. However, with the increase, some are concerned that they may be priced out.
$99 per month is already a tough ask for some. While Full Self-Driving is definitely worth it just due to the capabilities, not every driver is ready to add potentially 50 percent to their car payment each month to have it.
While Tesla has not revealed any target price for FSD, it does seem that it will go up to at least $150.
I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve.
The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD). https://t.co/YDKhXN3aaG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 23, 2026
Additionally, the ability to purchase the suite outright is also being eliminated on February 14, which gives owners another reason to be slightly concerned about whether they will be able to afford to continue paying for Full Self-Driving in any capacity.
Some owners have requested a tiered program, which would allow people to pay for the capabilities they want at a discounted price.
Unsupervised FSD would be the most expensive, and although the company started removing Autopilot from some vehicles, it seems a Supervised FSD suite would still attract people to pay between $49 and $99 per month, as it is very useful.
Tesla will likely release pricing for the Unsupervised suite when it is available, but price increases could still come to the Supervised version as things improve.
This is not the first time Musk has hinted that the price would change with capability improvements, either. He’s been saying it for some time. In 2020, he even said the value of FSD would “probably be somewhere in excess of $100,000.”
The FSD price will continue to rise as the software gets closer to full self-driving capability with regulatory approval. It that point, the value of FSD is probably somewhere in excess of $100,000.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2020
Tesla has chosen to axe the ability to purchase Full Self-Driving outright from a select group of cars just days after CEO Elon Musk announced the company had plans to eliminate that option in February.
The company is making a clear-cut stand that it will fully transition away from the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright, a move that has brought differing opinions throughout the Tesla community.
Earlier this week, the company also announced that it will no longer allow buyers to purchase Full Self-Driving outright when ordering a pre-owned vehicle from inventory. Instead, that will be available for $99 per month, the same price that it costs for everyone else.
The ability to buy the suite for $8,000 for a one-time fee at the time of order has been removed:
NEWS: Tesla no longer allows buyers to purchase FSD outright in the U.S. when ordering a pre-owned vehicle directly from inventory. Tesla now gives you the option to either subscribe for $99/month, or purchase FSD outright after taking delivery (available until February 14th). pic.twitter.com/1xZ0BVG4JB
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 23, 2026
This is a major move because it is the first time Tesla is eliminating the ability to purchase FSD outright for one flat fee to any of its vehicles, at least at the time of purchase.
It is trying to phase out the outright purchase option as much as it can, preparing people for the subscription-based service it will exclusively offer starting on February 14.
In less than a month, it won’t be available on any vehicle, which has truly driven some serious conversation from Tesla owners throughout the community.
There’s a conflict, because many believe that they will now lose the ability to buy FSD and not pay for it monthly, which is an attractive offer. However, others believe, despite paying $8,000 for FSD, that they will have to pay more money on top of that cost to get the unsupervised suite.
Additionally, CEO Elon Musk said that the FSD suite’s subscription price would increase over time as capabilities increase, which is understandable, but is also quite a conflict for those who spent thousands to have what was once promised to them, and now they may have to pay even more money.
News
Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature not available on typical Model Ys
These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.
Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature that is not available on typical Model Ys that people like you and me bring home after we buy them. The feature is something that many have been wanting for years, especially after the company adopted a vision-only approach to self-driving.
After Tesla launched driverless Robotaxi rides to the public earlier this week in Austin, people have been traveling to the Lone Star State in an effort to hopefully snag a ride from one of the few vehicles in the fleet that are now no longer required to have Safety Monitors present.
BREAKING: Tesla launches public Robotaxi rides in Austin with no Safety Monitor
Although only a few of those completely driverless rides are available, there have been some new things seen on these cars that are additions from regular Model Ys, including the presence of one new feature: camera washers.
With the Model Y, there has been a front camera washer, but the other exterior “eyes” have been void of any solution for this. For now, owners are required to clean them manually.
In Austin, Tesla is doing things differently. It is now utilizing camera washers on the side repeater and rear bumper cameras, which will keep the cameras clean and keep operation as smooth and as uninterrupted as possible:
🚨 Tesla looks to have installed Camera Washers on the side repeater cameras on Robotaxis in Austin
pic.twitter.com/xemRtDtlRR— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 23, 2026
Rear Camera Washer on Tesla Robotaxi pic.twitter.com/P9hgGStHmV
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 24, 2026
These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.
This is the first time we are seeing them, so it seems as if Safety Monitors might have been responsible for keeping the lenses clean and unobstructed previously.
However, as Tesla transitions to a fully autonomous self-driving suite and Robotaxi expands to more vehicles in the Robotaxi fleet, it needed to find a way to clean the cameras without any manual intervention, at least for a short period, until they can return for interior and exterior washing.
Tesla to increase Full Self-Driving subscription price: here’s when
Tesla starts removing outright Full Self-Driving purchase option at time of order
