Giga Texas is no longer just a vehicle factory — it's becoming one of the most ambitious industrial campuses in the world. Aerial observer Joe Tegtmeyer just released a condensed tour video breaking down every major project currently underway at the Austin site, along with context on where each development sits on the sprawling property. Here's what you need to know.
What exactly is being built at Giga Texas right now?
The biggest new addition is Tesla's advanced chip fabrication complex on the east side of the campus. According to permit filings with Travis County, Tesla is developing three distinct semiconductor facilities: a nearly 7-million-square-foot structure at 1 Harold Green Road called "North Campus Manufacturing," a 489,600-square-foot "Austin Semiconductor Fab" at the same address, and a smaller 46,400-square-foot facility called "Cortex 2.0" at 1035 Robotic Ave. Steel erection and excavation work are actively progressing. The target completion date filed with the county is December 31, 2029.
When did Tesla start planning the chip fab expansion?
The groundwork was laid earlier this year. In March 2026, Tesla filed site plans with Travis County for a "Terafab North Campus," signaling its intention to bring semiconductor manufacturing in-house at scale. Construction on the semiconductor facilities was slated to begin in late August 2026, and aerial footage confirms work is well underway. The scale of the filings — particularly the nearly 7-million-square-foot North Campus Manufacturing building — suggests this is a long-term, multi-year buildout rather than a quick addition.
What happened at the site just before this tour video dropped?
Giga Texas hosted the "X Takeover" event on October 9–10, 2026 — just days before Tegtmeyer published his condensed overview. The event included factory tours for VIP ticket holders, Cybercab street rides around the campus, and a drone and light show. Elon Musk participated virtually via interview. The timing of the tour video gives owners and observers a useful before-and-after snapshot of what the site looks like immediately following a major public event.
Why does Tesla need its own chip fabrication at this scale?
Tesla's appetite for custom silicon has grown significantly with the expansion of FSD, Dojo supercomputing, and Optimus robot production. Bringing chip manufacturing on-site at Giga Texas would reduce supply chain dependency and accelerate the iteration cycle between hardware design and production. The "Cortex 2.0" designation at 1035 Robotic Ave. is particularly notable — the Cortex name has previously been associated with Tesla's AI and robotics infrastructure, suggesting this facility is tied directly to those programs rather than vehicle production alone.
Is Tegtmeyer's video the best way to understand the site layout?
For anyone trying to visualize how these projects relate to each other geographically, yes. Tegtmeyer's condensed format is specifically designed to give spatial context — where the chip fab sits relative to the main vehicle production building, where upcoming projects are slated to go, and how the campus footprint is evolving. The full grand tour video covers more detail, but the condensed version he posted on October 13 is the faster entry point for owners who want the essentials without the extended runtime.
Giga Texas is mid-transformation in a way that goes well beyond adding a new production line. The semiconductor ambitions alone represent a fundamental shift in how Tesla controls its own supply chain. Tegtmeyer's ongoing aerial documentation remains one of the clearest windows into how fast — and how broadly — that transformation is actually moving.
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Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-10-13T14:28:49.000Z) — Direct source
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