

News
Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai’s progress bodes well for Model Y production by end of 2020
Recent flyovers of the Gigafactory Shanghai complex indicate that work on the Model Y factory is progressing at an incredibly quick manner. Built with a speed that seems to rival even that of the site’s Model 3 factory last year, the Model Y facility has evolved from a simple field with a few posts to a framework of a massive building in just a couple of months.
As could be seen in recent drone footage from Tesla enthusiast Jason Yang, Gigafactory Shanghai’s Phase 2A area, which has been confirmed as the Model Y factory in Tesla’s Q1 2020 Update Letter, is coming to form. Roof trusses have been laid on most of the building, and its metal framework seems pretty much completed. Considering the speed of the buildout so far, it would not be surprising if Tesla China starts paving the roof and floors of the facility within the coming month.
If one were to look at the current state of the Gigafactory Shanghai complex, one would see that it matches the progress of the Phase 1 building in late April 2019. Gigafactory Shanghai’s Model 3 facility was built in record time, and following a groundbreaking ceremony in January 2019, the building’s metal framework and roof trusses were nearly done by late April.
Following this, roof and floor paving were started, and by the end of May, the Model 3 facility’s factory shell was practically completed. Based on the current progress of the Model Y factory, it appears that Tesla China and its construction partners are progressing just as fast, if not faster, than the buildout of the Model 3 facility. This could bode very well for the production of the Made-in-China Model Y and its eventual release to the local market.
After the completion of Phase 1’s factory shell in late May 2019, it only took less than four months before trial assembly of the Model 3 began in the Phase 1 building. The first images of Made-in-China Model 3 trial units being assembled in Gigafactory Shanghai emerged in September 2019, and by October, photos of first production vehicles were being shared online. By the end of 2019, first deliveries of the locally-made Model 3 to Tesla China employees was conducted.
If the construction in the Phase 2A area matches the speed of the Model 3 factory, it would not be surprising if the Model Y facility starts rolling out trial units by the start of the fourth quarter. If Tesla China could accelerate its pace even further, then the idea of initial Model Y deliveries happening before the end of the year actually becomes quite feasible. The Model Y shares 75% of the Model 3’s parts, after all, and it is designed to be built with automation in mind. As it turns out, Tesla’s China team happens to excel in projects that are quick and efficient.
Watch a recent drone flyover of the Gigafactory Shanghai site in the video below.
News
Tesla Supercharger access has proven to be a challenge for one company
Interestingly, it seems to be the Volkswagen brand specifically that is having issues with compatibility with Tesla Superchargers. Other brands under the VW umbrella, like Audi and Porsche, have already gained access to the charging network.

Tesla Supercharger access has proven to be quite the challenge for one company, as it continues to delay the date that it will enable its owners to charge at the most expansive network in the world.
Tesla Superchargers have been opening up to other brands for well over a year, and many car companies that are manufacturing electric vehicles now have access to the vast network that has over 70,000 locations worldwide.
Tesla to launch Supercharger access for VW owners later this year
However, one brand has experienced some issues with what it is calling “technical challenges,” specifically failing to enable cross-compatibility between its vehicles and Tesla Superchargers.
Volkswagen has had to delay its ability to enable customers to charge at Superchargers because there have been some difficulties getting things to run smoothly. A report from PCMag cites a quote from a Volkswagen spokesperson who said there are still plans to deliver this year, but there have been some delays:
“Volkswagen looks forward to making it possible for ID. Buzz and ID.4 vehicle owners to gain access to the Tesla NACS Partner Superchargers. The timeline has been delayed by technical challenges, and we ask for customers’ patience. We still expect to deliver access this year.”
Interestingly, it seems to be the Volkswagen brand specifically that is having issues with compatibility with Tesla Superchargers. Other brands under the VW umbrella, like Audi and Porsche, have already gained access to the charging network.
Volkswagen EV owners will need to use an official VW adapter to access the Tesla Supercharger Network once the issues are resolved. It still plans to launch access to its owners later this year, but its spokesperson did not announce any planned timeline.
News
Tesla Giga Berlin makes big move amid strong sales and demand
“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards.”

Tesla is making a big move at its factory in Germany, known as Giga Berlin, as managers at the plant have indicated the company plans to increase its production rate for the remainder of the year.
Giga Berlin is responsible for manufacturing Model Y vehicles for several markets worldwide, including those outside of Europe. It was opened in March 2022, and it recently built its 500,000th Model Y in March and its 100,000th new Model Y just three weeks ago.
Due to some encouraging sales figures in the markets it provides vehicles for, Tesla said it is planning to increase production at the factory for the remainder of the year.
Andrè Thierig, plant manager at Giga Berlin, said to German news outlet DPA on Sunday that market data has encouraged a move to be made regarding the production at the factory:
“We currently have very good sales figures and have therefore revised our production plans for the third and fourth quarters upwards.”
It is interesting to see this kind of narrative from Thierig, especially as data has shown Tesla has struggled in various markets, including Germany, this year.
Sales drops have been reported, but other markets are holding strong, especially those in Northern Europe, such as Norway, where the Model Y saw a nearly 39 percent increase in sales in August compared to the same month the previous year.
Gigafactory Berlin supplies vehicles for other markets, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are strategically important to avoid tariffs. It also builds cars for the Middle East.
Thierig reiterated this point during the interview with DPA:
“We supply well over 30 markets and definitely see a positive trend there.”
Elon Musk
Tesla analyst says Musk stock buy should send this signal to investors
“With Musk’s (Tesla stock) purchase, combined with the upward momentum for delivery expectations and robotaxi rollout, we are becoming more bullish.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk purchased roughly $1 billion in Tesla shares on Friday, and analysts are now breaking down the move as the stock is headed upward.
One of them is William Blair analyst Jed Dorsheimer, who said in a new note to investors on Monday that Musk’s move should send a signal of confidence to stock buyers, especially considering the company’s numerous catalysts that currently exist.
Elon Musk just bought $1 billion in Tesla stock, his biggest purchase ever
Dorsheimer said in the note:
“With Musk’s (Tesla stock) purchase, combined with the upward momentum for delivery expectations and robotaxi rollout, we are becoming more bullish. This purchase is Musk’s first buy since 2020. To us, this sends a strong signal of confidence in the most important part of Tesla’s future business, robotaxi.”
Musk putting an additional $1 billion back into the company in the form of more stock ownership is obviously a huge vote of confidence.
He knows more than anyone about the progress Tesla has made and is making on the Robotaxi platform, as well as the company’s ongoing efforts to solve vehicle autonomy. If he’s buying stock, it is more than likely a good sign.
Tesla has continued to expand its Robotaxi platform in a number of ways. The project has gotten bigger in terms of service area, vehicle fleet, and testing population. Tesla has also recently received a permit to test in Nevada, unlocking the potential to expand into a brand-new state for the company.
In the note, Dorsheimer also touched on Musk’s recent pay package, revealing that William Blair recently met with Tesla’s Board of Directors, who gave the firm some more color on the situation:
“We recently participated in a meeting with Tesla’s board of directors to discuss the details of Musk’s performance package. The board is confident of its position in the Delaware case and anticipates a verdict by end of year. It does not expect a similar situation to occur under new Texas jurisdiction. Musk has the board’s full support, and we expect he’ll get more than enough shareholder support for this to pass with flying colors.”
Tesla stock is up over 6 percent so far today, trading at $421.50 at the time of publication.
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