Tesla has shared a unique new project at its Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg, featuring a small, dedicated facility that’s powered only by solar and the company’s home battery.
On Tuesday, Tesla’s Manufacturing account on X posted about the so-called “Giga small haus,” which is a building and display exhibit at Giga Berlin that’s powered only by the sun and the Powerwall 3. The building is a small room featuring a Tesla Model Y, an informational wall display detailing the Powerwall’s capabilities, and a ton of bright lighting to help make the company’s point.
Credit: Tesla Manufacturing | X Credit: Tesla Manufacturing | X
The wall display features the Tesla Powerwall 3 and a Gateway, along with the following text about the hardware and the exhibit, as translated into English from German:
The Powerwall is a compact power storage unit that stores solar power or grid power. This power can be used to power the devices in your home day and night—even during power outages.
Customizable power management features allow you to use your stored power for backup, to reduce your electricity bill, and more.
Storing Surplus Electricity
If your solar system generates more electricity than you need, you can store the extra power in the Powerwall for later use. The Powerwall can also charge itself from the public power grid when electricity prices are low.
Use electricity cleverly
Your stored power is always available – day, night, or during a power outage. One Powerwall can power your entire home – including heating, air conditioning, and other major appliances.
Save and earn
Powerwall can optimize stored electricity based on your usage history and weather forecasts and dynamic electricity rates to power your home more efficiently during the day and at night.
Solar power for everything
Thanks to the fully integrated solar power inverter, the Powerwall can efficiently store your solar power and convert it into alternating current for your household.
Suitable for all conditions
Thanks to innovative thermal management for installation outdoors or in buildings.
Note: The remainder of the text is out of view in the photo Tesla posted, though it continues on, detailing the system’s use as an Emergency Power Supply, the Tesla App, and presumably more. This story will be updated with the full text when it emerges.
Tesla has used creative tactics for educational and advertising purposes many times in the past, and this comes as the company’s most recent public-facing developments at the Grünheide facility. Earlier this month, the company also highlighted how far Giga Berlin has come in the five years since Elon Musk first announced the project in 2019—including its production milestone of over 400,000 Model Y units, delivery to 37 countries, and its employment of 12,000 employees.
The company has also pointed to its water recycling facility at Giga Berlin in recent months, and its efforts to re-plant three times the number of trees it cuts down for an upcoming expansion project. For employees, the company also built an incoming railway, offering a free, now-electric “Giga Train” for workers in neighboring communities to be able to commute to work.
Last December, just weeks after the launch of the Cybertruck and hints at an upcoming launch of the Powerwall 3, Tesla used the two and a solar roof to deliver, install, and power an art exhibit in San Francisco 24 hours a day.
What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.
Tesla highlights water recycling efforts at its Gigafactory Berlin
Elon Musk
Tesla Giga Texas to feature massive Optimus V4 production line
This suggests that while the first Optimus line will be set up in the Fremont Factory, the real ramp of Optimus’ production will happen in Giga Texas.
Tesla will build Optimus 4 in Giga Texas, and its production line will be massive. This was, at least, as per recent comments by CEO Elon Musk on social media platform X.
Optimus 4 production
In response to a post on X which expressed surprise that Optimus will be produced in California, Musk stated that “Optimus 4 will be built in Texas at much higher volume.” This suggests that while the first Optimus line will be set up in the Fremont Factory, and while the line itself will be capable of producing 1 million humanoid robots per year, the real ramp of Optimus’ production will happen in Giga Texas.
This was not the first time that Elon Musk shared his plans for Optimus’ production at Gigafactory Texas. During the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, he stated that Giga Texas’ Optimus line will produce 10 million units of the humanoid robot per year. He did not, however, state at the time that Giga Texas would produce Optimus V4.
“So we’re going to launch on the fastest production ramp of any product of any large complex manufactured product ever, starting with building a one-million-unit production line in Fremont. And that’s Line one. And then a ten million unit per year production line here,” Musk stated.
How big Optimus could become
During Tesla’s Q4 and FY 2025 earnings call, Musk offered additional context on the potential of Optimus. While he stated that the ramp of Optimus’ production will be deliberate at first, the humanoid robot itself will have the potential to change the world.
“Optimus really will be a general-purpose robot that can learn by observing human behavior. You can demonstrate a task or verbally describe a task or show it a task. Even show it a video, it will be able to do that task. It’s going to be a very capable robot. I think long-term Optimus will have a very significant impact on the US GDP.
“It will actually move the needle on US GDP significantly. In conclusion, there are still many who doubt our ambitions for creating amazing abundance. We are confident it can be done, and we are making the right moves technologically to ensure that it does. Tesla, Inc. has never been a company to shy away from solving the hardest problems,” Musk stated.
Elon Musk
Rumored SpaceX-xAI merger gets apparent confirmation from Elon Musk
The comment follows reports that the rocket maker is weighing a transaction that could further consolidate Musk’s space and AI ventures.
Elon Musk appeared to confirm reports that SpaceX is exploring a potential merger with artificial intelligence startup xAI by responding positively to a post about the reported transaction on X.
Musk’s comment follows reports that the rocket maker is weighing a transaction that could further consolidate his space and AI ventures.
SpaceX xAI merger
As per a recent Reuters report, SpaceX has held discussions about merging with xAI, with the proposed structure potentially involving an exchange of xAI shares for SpaceX stock. The value, structure, and timing of any deal have not been finalized, and no agreement has been signed.
Musk appeared to acknowledge the report in a brief reply on X, responding “Yeah” to a post that described SpaceX as a future “Dyson Swarm company.” The comment references a Dyson Swarm, a sci-fi megastructure concept that consists of a massive network of satellites or structures that orbit a celestial body to harness its energy.
Reuters noted that two entities were formed in Nevada on January 21 to facilitate a potential transaction for the possible SpaceX-xAI merger. The discussions remain ongoing, and a transaction is not yet guaranteed, however.
AI and space infrastructure
A potential merger with xAI would align with Musk’s stated strategy of integrating artificial intelligence development with space-based systems. Musk has previously said that space-based infrastructure could support large-scale computing by leveraging continuous solar energy, an approach he has framed as economically scalable over time.
xAI already has operational ties to Musk’s other companies. The startup develops Grok, a large language model that holds a U.S. Department of Defense contract valued at up to $200 million. AI also plays a central role in SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite programs, which rely on automation and machine learning for network management and national security applications.
Musk has previously consolidated his businesses through share-based transactions, including Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 and xAI’s acquisition of X last year. Bloomberg has also claimed that Musk is considering a merger between SpaceX and Tesla in the future.
Tesla analyst Gary Black of The Future Fund claims that the company is making a big mistake getting rid of the Model S and Model X. Instead, he believes another vehicle within the company’s lineup should be discontinued: the Cybertruck.
Black divested The Future Fund from all Tesla holdings last year, but he still covers the stock as an analyst as it falls in the technology and autonomy sectors, which he covers.
In a new comment on Thursday, Black said the Cybertruck should be the vehicle Tesla gets rid of due to the negatives it has drawn to the company.
The Cybertruck is also selling in an underwhelming fashion considering the production capacity Tesla has set aside for it. It’s worth noting it is still the best-selling electric pickup on the market, and it has outlasted other EV truck projects as other manufacturers are receding their efforts.
Black said:
“IMHO it’s a mistake to keep Tesla Cybertruck which has negative brand equity and sold 10,000 units last year, and discontinue S/X which have strong repeat brand loyalty and together sold 30K units and are highly profitable. Why not discontinue CT and covert S/X to be fully autonomous?”
IMHO it’s a mistake to keep $TSLA Cybertruck which has negative brand equity and sold 10,000 units last year, and discontinue S/X which have strong repeat brand loyalty and together sold 30K units and are highly profitable. Why not discontinue CT and covert S/X to be fully…
— Gary Black (@garyblack00) January 29, 2026
On Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla planned to transition Model S and Model X production lines at the Fremont Factory to handle manufacturing efforts of the Optimus Gen 3 robot.
Musk said that it was time to wind down the S and X programs “with an honorable discharge,” also noting that the two cars are not major contributors to Tesla’s mission any longer, as its automotive division is more focused on autonomy, which will be handled by Model 3, Model Y, and Cybercab.
Tesla begins Cybertruck deliveries in a new region for the first time
The news has drawn conflicting perspectives, with many Tesla fans upset about the decision, especially as it ends the production of the largest car in the company’s lineup. Tesla’s focus is on smaller ride-sharing vehicles, especially as the vast majority of rides consist of two or fewer passengers.
The S and X do not fit in these plans.
Nevertheless, the Cybertruck fits in Tesla’s future plans. Musk said the pickup will be needed for the transportation of local goods. Musk also said Cybertruck would be transitioned to an autonomous line.
Tesla Giga Texas to feature massive Optimus V4 production line
Rumored SpaceX-xAI merger gets apparent confirmation from Elon Musk
