Model Y Perf Production! Far N Clearing, Cortex 2 Transformers! 8 Dec 2025 Giga Texas Update(7:35AM)

Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, and Cyber Truck production happens and in 2025, the Next Generation Car(s), Cybercab & the Optimus Robot!

Great but cold day to fly today at the site, where construction & production were both in full swing to start off the work week. AS a reminder, just two more production weeks remaining before the Christmas and New Year holiday break, with production resuming on 5 January.

Timestamps:
Drone flight overview with discussion & illustration: 0:06 to 3:42
Drone flight footage & infographics: 4:03 to 35:40

In the video introduction, I talk about another major development on the site, this time at Cortex 2 where crews were beginning the installation of transformers and electronic cabinets on the platforms and screw-type piers on the west side of the facility. It sure looks like a lot of power is going to be needed! Glad to finally be able to confirm the location of all those green transformers that have been stored on site for a few months!

As a side note, a few viewers have asked it having all of these electrical systems installed so close to the facility is approved and the answer is a resounding YES … there are multiple approved fire marshal permits for this construction project, some of which I have presented over the period of construction of this facility, and I think that answers any questions a few viewers might have.

In addition, I talk about the ongoing work on the walled-off construction underway on the E side of Cortex as well as the additional work at the electrical switchyard expansion to erect steel A-Frames, perform more auger drilling, and run cabling through the completed underground conduits & more steel materials deliveries.

One other item of note I mention in the introduction is the apparent resumption of Model Y Performance production & shipping. This follows a pause due to the need for additional inspections on a potential safety item omission. It appears all Model Y Performances that were on hold at Giga Texas last week are now gone, transported off site over the weekend and to their new owners!

Also, today seems to be a Model Y Performance production day as many were streaming out of the factory exit and I was able to catch some short video clips of this activity & their arrival at the EOL facility. This is great news for the new owners & glad to see Tesla has worked out the issue (possibly related to passenger seats).

I was able to visit the far north of the site to check out the old sand & gravel mine area between the two flat fields, and we see continued preliminary reclamation work, active soil sample drilling, and resumed breaking up of the old concrete scrap material, as if to prepare this area for future construction.

Finally, I wanted to address questions that viewers and I have had about why the Cathode chiller system and the Cortex 1 cooling system have scaffolding and plastic sheeting around the open ground areas. I have been told by someone who has direct knowledge of the operation of both sites that this is in fact due to cold weather, specifically freezing temperatures expected over the winter here in Texas.

These sites use measuring and sensor systems that use small pipes filled with water and these can freeze, which would render the facilities these systems serve unable to operate. I asked if this is a temporary workaround solution and if there is a more permanent solution in the works. I was told that this is the standard for systems like this and few permanent solutions are on the horizon. So, we should expect to see more of this each year in the winter.

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@Jeff Roberts

Video, photos, illustrations, and commentary on this video is by me, Joe Tegtmeyer unless otherwise annotated.

Music in this video is obtained from the YouTube free and unrestricted and royalty-free use library. Ending song is Mr. Sunny Face - Wayne Jones

Drones used are DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2 & Air 3.

Drone flight over Giga Texas is with permission of Tesla and CEO Elon Musk