Autos — Tesla celebrated the opening of its Austin, Texas Gigafactory, with CEO Elon Musk introducing the Cybertruck as well as a new Robotaxy.
And the event was largely geared toward Texas, with many of the attendees dressed up as cowboys. Musk himself arrived at the event in a first-generation Tesla Roadster, donning a cowboy hat and presenting the first examples of the Texas-manufactured Model Y. The Gigafactory in Texas is the brand's largest plant at 10 million square feet and also houses the company's new headquarters. Model Y will make up the majority of factory-built models, and projected production is estimated at 500,000 units annually.
According to Musk, "This year it's all about expansion, and then next year there's going to be a massive wave of new products." Musk promised that the Cybertruck would come in 2023. The truck appeared on the scene at the end of the event, and Musk joked that he would lock the window again.
The electric truck has received some updates since we last saw it, most notably the removal of the door handles, and production of the truck will begin in 2023, ending nearly three years of waiting for those who pre-ordered the truck early. Finally, teaser images have been submitted for a brand new product called Robotaxy, a custom robotic taxi that will look "completely futuristic." No timetable or any other details about the project were provided. Tesla's fully self-driving technology will also reach all North American customers in 2023.
Musk also said the Texas plant could eventually produce 1 million cars a year, which would take total global production to more than 2 million in 2023. The Tesla Roadster and Truck models are also set to go into production next year, though Musk did not say In which factory will they be built? The event also featured a stunning drone light show, a mechanical bull, and even a Tesla Model Y array arranged in the shape of the Texas flag.