Tesla is making strides in the construction of its new Megafactory in Shanghai, China, which will be a major hub for the production of its Megapacks—large-scale battery systems designed for utility energy storage. The company has now shared a render of what the completed facility will look like, revealing plans for a vast factory covered in solar panels.
The Shanghai Megafactory marks Tesla’s first energy storage factory outside of the United States. This expansion follows the success of Tesla’s first dedicated Megafactory in Lathrop, California, which has been ramping up production of Megapacks to reach a full capacity of 40 GWh. This California facility has already played a crucial role in helping Tesla set new records for energy storage deployment nearly every quarter.
Last year, Tesla announced its intentions to replicate the success of the Lathrop Megafactory in China. The plan, which included a partnership with Shanghai’s Lingang authorities, was officially signed late last year. Initially, Tesla aimed to start construction in the second half of 2023, with production kicking off by the second quarter of 2024. However, the project encountered some delays, pushing the start of production to the first quarter of 2025—still an ambitious timeline given the scale of the project.
Despite these setbacks, the project is now advancing rapidly. Tesla’s Vice President of China, Grace Tao-Lin, provided an update on Weibo, stating that the construction is approximately 45% complete. She emphasized that the project is progressing at both “Tesla speed” and “Lingang speed,” a nod to the company’s reputation for fast-paced development and its strong partnership with local authorities.
In her update, Tao-Lin also shared the first render of the final design for the Tesla Megafactory Shanghai. The image showcases a sprawling factory complex with a rooftop covered in solar panels, underscoring Tesla’s commitment to sustainable energy.
Once completed, the Shanghai Megafactory will have a production capacity of about 40 GWh, mirroring its California counterpart. This addition is expected to nearly double Tesla’s global production capacity for stationary energy storage, further cementing the company’s leadership in the renewable energy sector.
