On the first day back at work after the Christmas break, crews at Giga Texas received a special delivery this morning, hinting that the factory is nearing production of Model Y cars with structural battery packs.
Captured in a drone flyover by Joe Tegtmeyer, a test Model Y body and alignment rig arrived at the north end of the factory near the paint shop.
While this isn’t the first sighting of a Model Y body at Giga Texas, this one is particularly interesting because of one small but significant detail that could be easily missed.
The frame of the car has no floor, indicating this is a test Model Y body that will be built with a structural battery pack with 4680 cells.
Here’s what the current generation Tesla Model Y frame looks like, clearly showing the bottom plate which serves as the attachment point for the battery pack with 2170 cells.
And here is the only image we have seen of a Model Y with a structural battery pack, which was on display at the Giga Berlin-Brandenburg County Fair in October. The second photo clearly shows the battery pack also serves as the floor of the electric SUV with the seats bolting directly onto it.
This is yet another sign Tesla is progressing quicker than most people think towards Model Y production with 4680 cells and structural battery packs.
Earlier this month Tegtmeyer also spotted 4680 cell production line equipment already installed inside the factory. Tesla is aiming to open the factory and begin production in early 2022.
Tesla 4680 battery cell production line equipment arrives at Giga Texas
