Tesla Megafactory in China Begins Test Production, Paving Way for Successful Development in 2025

Image: Tesla

The Jowua team wishes you a Happy 2025 New Year and invites you to review the news from the Tesla universe. The company publishes delivery data for Q4 2024, begins test production at the Megafactory in China, and more. Welcome!

Tesla Publishes Delivery Data

On Thursday, the company published delivery data for Q4 2024. Tesla produced 459,445 vehicles of which 436,718 were Model 3 and Model Y and 22,727 other models (Model X, Model S, and Cybertruck). The company delivered 495,570 vehicles of which 471,930 were Model 3 and Model Y and 23,640 other models.

Thus, in 2024, Tesla produced 1,773,443 vehicles and delivered 1,789,226 vehicles. This is slightly lower than in 2023 when the company produced 1,845,985 vehicles and delivered 1,808,581.

King County in Washington State Expands Fleet with Teslas

The county decided to reduce carbon emissions in its public transportation system by purchasing 120 Tesla Model Ys. The local government is spending $6.43 million on the vehicles, and allocating an additional $60,000 for chargers, accessories, and licensing. The electric SUVs will be used in the Vanpool fleet for $49 per month.

Shanghai Megafactory Begins Trial Production

Tesla has completed the construction of its first Megapack factory outside the US. The new facility, located in Shanghai, was built in a record time of just seven months. According to the data, after successfully passing a completion inspection on December 27, the factory began trial production. The Shanghai Megafactory will produce 10,000 Megapacks per year, equivalent to about 40 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy storage, once fully operational.

More Affordable Cybertrucks

Tesla's American customers got a nice treat in early 2025. Cybertruck buyers in the US are now eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. According to new data released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on January 1, the tax credit applies to the dual-motor version of Cybertruck. This reduces the starting price of the electric pickup truck for eligible buyers from $79,990 to $72,490. The updated tax credit rules take effect for vehicles delivered between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. In addition, it became known that a cheaper rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant of Cybertruck may soon appear, which will expand the customer base.

Cybertruck Demonstrated Durability During an Explosion

Las Vegas police are investigating an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck that occurred near the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. In the morning, the vehicle pulled up to the entrance of the hotel and parked. A few minutes later, smoke began to come out of the car, followed by an explosion. As a result, the Cybertruck driver died, and seven other people were slightly injured. However, the pickup truck's robust body was able to significantly protect the environment and people around it, preventing shrapnel from causing much damage. Photos and videos from the scene show that the Cybertruck's exterior panels were almost completely undamaged.

According to the investigation, which was reported by Elon Musk, the explosion was not related to a malfunction of the Cybertruck. He confirmed it was from fireworks or a bomb being transported in the bed of a truck. The vehicle was rented on Turo. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.