Tesla is reportedly working toward a massive expansion of its solar manufacturing capabilities, with discussions underway to secure up to $2.9 billion worth of equipment from Chinese suppliers.
Sources familiar with the matter that spoke with Reuters say the equipment would be used to manufacture both solar cells and panels, forming a major part of Tesla’s plan to build out 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity domestically. The company has previously indicated it wants to achieve this milestone “before the end of 2028.”
Several Chinese firms are reportedly involved in the discussions, including Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, a major supplier of screen-printing systems used in solar cell production. The company is said to be seeking approval from China’s commerce ministry to export certain equipment.
Additional suppliers under consideration include Shenzhen S.C New Energy Technology and Laplace Renewable Energy Technology.
The proposed order—valued at approximately 20 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion)—would include specialized production lines required for high-volume solar manufacturing. However, regulatory hurdles could complicate the process, as portions of the equipment may require export clearance from Chinese authorities.
It is unclear how much of the deal is subject to these approvals or whether the timeline could be affected.
Despite that uncertainty, suppliers have reportedly been asked to prepare shipments as early as this fall, with Texas emerging as a likely destination for at least some of the equipment. Tesla is expected to use much of the resulting solar capacity internally, though some output may also support SpaceX’s Starlink satellites.
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