Tesla Gigafactory

[RubberToe]

I'm pretty sure Tesla doesn't want drones flying around their construction site.

Not over it, but around it. Not sure they have any control over someone doing that. wk057 being a prime example.

RT

 

[mspohr]

Article in today's Washington Post about the Gigafactory (including a few pictures taken 25 March):
The gamble on Tesla’s gigafactory in the Nevada desert - The Washington Post

The article has one long range shot of the factory which if you enlarge it, you can see that they have made some progress.

I live close to Reno so I may try to get some photos one of these days when I get down there but this article states that they have built a large berm around the perimeter so it's hard to get good photos.

 

[JRP3]

It seems a far-off goal: The company sold an estimated 18,750 of its Model S roadsters in 2014, at a sticker price of about $70,000.

 

[Krugerrand]

Yeah, that was a bunch of words and numbers just pulled out of thin air.

 

[rtz]

From the WP article: "said he expected Tesla to acquire the surrounding ridge."

Just like what happened to the hill that used to be used to see Area 51.

 

[JRP3]

That won't stop the drones :wink:

Might as well insert the pic for easier comparison with future development:

 

[dhanson865]

From the WP article: "said he expected Tesla to acquire the surrounding ridge."

Just like what happened to the hill that used to be used to see Area 51.

but in this case it is an industrial park. Buying the ridge around it only stops ground based photography from "above". You could drive to one of the other two warehouses right next to it and launch a drone from there. Hills don't matter when you have a public road that leads to the site, plenty of parking, and plenty of airspace for drones.

 

[Krugerrand]

Interesting that we (general) can't just accept the want for privacy.

 

[JRP3]

I just want to see what "my" company is doing :wink:

 

[Krugerrand]

I just want to see what "my" company is doing :wink:

"Your" company is trying to be Santa Claus.

 

[JRP3]

I'm long past believing in such. Frankly I don't see a positive motivation for trying to hide construction progress on a building. Once it's enclosed most progress will be hidden anyway, so any potential surprises will remain secret until reveal.

 

[Krugerrand]

I'm long past believing in such. Frankly I don't see a positive motivation for trying to hide construction progress on a building. Once it's enclosed most progress will be hidden anyway, so any potential surprises will remain secret until reveal.

I imagine they're all just tired of the over scrutinizing of everything they do and the twisting of it done by the media. The natural instinct is then to become tight-lipped and secretive, on top of it we have a CEO who already likes to have secrets and drop surprises.

 

[JRP3]

As long as they don't start shooting down drones.

 

[dhanson865]

As long as they don't start shooting down drones.

considering how small and quiet an electric drone can be and the fact I'm doubting they'll use EMPs large enough to be an area effect weapon. It'd be very hard to detect, let alone stop the less obvious drones.

Besides even if they could stop drones you could just plot a manned flight across that facility (plane, helicopter, blimp, hot air balloon, ultralight, glider, hang glider, etcetera). Once you do that they sure aren't going to shoot you down and you'll get your pics.

 

[Krugerrand]

As long as they don't start shooting down drones.

Well, if we start to see them putting in some turrets....

 

[eepic]

Well, if we start to see them putting in some turrets....

I've heard something about a guy at Tesla who is quite good at rockets

 

[Shawn Snider]

I realize I may garner some unsavory responses, but after browsing quite a few forums on the GigaFactory I still cant find any info on WHEN the factory MIGHT start up? Last I heard (few months ago) they were ahead of schedule, anyone know if that's still the case?

Sorry for the annoyance (if it is) and thanks in advance for your reply!

PS-Not an investor, but would love to be!

 

[Johan]

I realize I may garner some unsavory responses, but after browsing quite a few forums on the GigaFactory I still cant find any info on WHEN the factory MIGHT start up? Last I heard (few months ago) they were ahead of schedule, anyone know if that's still the case?

Sorry for the annoyance (if it is) and thanks in advance for your reply!

PS-Not an investor, but would love to be!

I think you need to define "start up" more precisely if you want a more precise answer than 2016 (which is the latest official estimate from Tesla).

There is likely an internal roadmap with milestones such as "all equipment fir first production line installed", "first cell coming off the line" and "1st production line running at capacity" etc.

My rough guesstimate, from following news and statements by JB and Elon and info on conference calls would be some production in 2016 with meaningful volumes in 2017.

 

[chickensevil]

There was actually a comment recently (and sorry I can't recall well enough to give a reference) that they were anticipating the first cells in the 1st half of 2016 (I think, if my memory is serving me well enough it was actually stated as Q1... but I am not as certain about that one).

Considering we are now 3-6 months away from the Model X release and we still only know "Q3 for first deliveries" I wouldn't expect a more definitive timeline from Tesla on the startup of the factory.

 

[doggusfluffy]

There was actually a comment recently (and sorry I can't recall well enough to give a reference) that they were anticipating the first cells in the 1st half of 2016 (I think, if my memory is serving me well enough it was actually stated as Q1... but I am not as certain about that one).

Considering we are now 3-6 months away from the Model X release and we still only know "Q3 for first deliveries" I wouldn't expect a more definitive timeline from Tesla on the startup of the factory.

From the ER in this thread:

"We are developing the Tesla Gigafactory, a facility where we intend to work together with our suppliers to integrate battery precursor material, cell, module and battery pack production in one location. In June 2014, we broke ground on the Gigafactory outside of Reno, Nevada. Construction continued during the third quarter of 2014 at an accelerated pace with first cells expected to be produced in 2016 for use in Model S and Model X.