π UPDATE β July 13, 2026
A July 13 flyover by Joe Tegtmeyer reveals two major developments since our original report. Tesla has officially launched an internal employee Cybercab service at Giga Texas β a meaningful step beyond mere testing that signals growing confidence in the autonomous ride-hailing platform ahead of public deployment. Cybercabs continue active testing runs on-site alongside the new employee program.
The Optimus factory has expanded again, now stretching approximately 8 column lengths (~360 feet / ~100 m north to south) and approaching its full width as steel framing nears completion. This marks continued acceleration from the footprint captured in the July 6 flyover covered in our original article.
π‘ Source: @JoeTegtmeyer, July 13, 2026
π UPDATE β July 13, 2026
A July 13 flyover by @JoeTegtmeyer reveals the Optimus factory superstructure has grown to 8 column grids in length (~360 feet / ~100 meters north to south) and is now approaching its full final width β a notable jump since the July 6 snapshots covered in this article. Steel installation and assembly is described as progressing quickly, with GeoPier ground improvement work continuing on the south end as a prerequisite for footing and foundation work still ahead. The pace suggests Tesla is pushing hard to close in on the building's full structural footprint before turning attention to interior buildout.
πΈ Source: @JoeTegtmeyer, July 13, 2026
π UPDATE β July 10, 2026
A July 10 flyover by @JoeTegtmeyer reveals construction at Giga Texas is pushing forward on multiple new fronts beyond the four originally reported. The Advanced Chip Fab site on the east side of the campus is showing significant progress, marking Tesla's first steps toward in-house semiconductor manufacturing at the Austin facility. Meanwhile, the Optimus factory site to the north continues its rapid build-out. Perhaps most notably, fresh clearing, excavation work, and workshop setup have been spotted in the far northeast corner of the battery cathode plant β an area not previously flagged as active β suggesting that project is accelerating faster than earlier aerials indicated. Today was a non-production day at the factory, but ground crews showed no signs of slowing down.
πΈ Source: Joe Tegtmeyer β July 10, 2026 Giga Texas snapshots
π UPDATE β July 9, 2026
Fresh drone footage from Airwave Dynamics, flagged by @SawyerMerritt, shows Giga Texas production output is now running "very high" β with Model Y in particular appearing to be in a significant surge. On top of that, 50+ Cybercabs have been spotted being shipped out, marking a notable step forward in Tesla's robotaxi fleet deployment. This latest July 9 flyover builds directly on the expansion signs documented in our July 6 report, suggesting the multi-vehicle ramp is accelerating faster than anticipated.
Sawyer Merritt @SawyerMerritt Β· Jul 9, 2026"Production output at Giga Texas right now looks to be very high, specifically for Model Y. 50+ more Cybercabs being shipped out too."
π UPDATE β July 9, 2026
New ground-level and close-up photos from aerial photographer Joe Tegtmeyer put the sheer scale of the Optimus factory construction into sharper focus. With workers visible in the shots, the massive steel structures and infrastructure taking shape at Giga Texas are far easier to comprehend β dwarfing the humans on site. The images underscore just how ambitious Tesla's buildout for its humanoid robot production line truly is, going well beyond what wide-angle flyovers alone convey.
@JoeTegtmeyer Β· July 9, 2026"Getting a sense of the scale involved with the construction of the @Tesla Optimus factory at Giga Texas can be difficult, but I think these with humans in the shot helps with that perspective."
π UPDATE β July 8, 2026
A July 8 flyover by Joe Tegtmeyer reveals several new construction milestones at Giga Texas. The Test Track has gained cobblestone sections specifically designed for NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) testing β a detail not visible in the July 6 snapshots. Foundation preparation is now underway for the E Advanced Chip Fab, marking an early but concrete step toward on-site chip manufacturing. Meanwhile, steel assembly for the Optimus Factory continues to grow, and the River Road extension is also making visible progress.
π UPDATE β July 7, 2026
A July 7 flyover by @JoeTegtmeyer reveals the Giga Texas Optimus Factory is advancing faster than the July 6 snapshots suggested. Most of the central roof structure is now in place, four floors of steel framing are visible, and floor decking has begun. Critically, a vast number of foundation footings have been completed β clearing the way for an accelerated steel assembly push in the days ahead.
@JoeTegtmeyer Β· Jul 7, 2026
"Growth continues at the Giga Texas Optimus Factory today, not only with additional steel assembly including most of the central roof structure, four floors so far, and floor decking, but a vast number of the footings have been completed which should allow rapid steel assembly."
Giga Texas is no longer just a Model Y and Cybertruck factory. Aerial footage captured on July 6, 2026 by drone journalist Joe Tegtmeyer shows four distinct product lines and construction projects running simultaneously β a level of parallel activity that signals Tesla is executing on its most ambitious production roadmap to date.
1. Model Y L Is Stacking Up in the Outbound Lot
The six-seat Model Y L β launched in the U.S. on July 1, 2026 at $61,990 for the Launch Series trim β is already building inventory at Giga Texas. Tegtmeyer's footage shows Model Y L units lined up in the outbound lot, confirming that production is running less than a week after the official U.S. launch. For buyers who ordered at launch, that's an encouraging sign that delivery timelines shouldn't stretch far.
2. Fresh Cybertrucks Are Rolling Off the Line
Newly-built Cybertrucks were observed exiting the factory floor in the July 6 snapshots. Cybertruck production at Giga Texas has been ongoing, with the Dual Motor AWD variant β priced at $59,990 β now in series production following its February 2026 launch. Tesla produced 8,822 units across its non-Model 3/Y lineup in Q2 2026, a figure that includes Cybertruck output. The steady cadence visible in the outbound lot suggests the line has found its rhythm.
3. Cybercabs Are Accumulating in the Lot
Perhaps the most closely watched vehicles on the property: Cybercabs are now visible in the outbound lot alongside the other models. Volume production began in April 2026, roughly two months after the first production unit rolled off the line on February 17. Tesla's long-term target is one Cybercab every 10 seconds at full scale β an annual capacity of 2 million units across multiple factories. Elon Musk has openly called the initial ramp-up "agonizingly slow," but the lot inventory and ongoing public road testing in Austin suggest the pace is building. Cybercabs have been spotted testing full autonomy (no safety monitor) on the Giga Texas test track, practicing passenger drop-off and pick-up simulations.
4. The Optimus Factory Is Growing Fast β and So Is the South Extension
Construction of Tesla's dedicated Optimus robot factory on the Giga Texas North Campus is visibly accelerating. Steel structures that first appeared in late May 2026 have grown larger again, with more steel assembled since the last flyover. Separately, a south extension of the main Giga Texas building is also pushing further south. According to previous reports, the Optimus expansion is projected to add over 5.2 million square feet of new industrial space, with a long-term production target of 10 million robots annually. High-volume production using a Gen 4 line is targeted for Summer 2027, while initial Gen 3 Optimus units for internal deployment are expected to begin at Fremont in July/August 2026.
What makes this snapshot unusual isn't any single product β it's the density of simultaneous activity. A mainstream SUV, a stainless-steel truck, an autonomous robotaxi, and a humanoid robot factory are all scaling at the same Austin address. Tesla's Q2 2026 earnings call on July 22 will be the next opportunity to get hard numbers behind what the cameras are already showing.
Related Gear
Gear up your Cybertruck with tested, custom-fit BASENOR accessories β shop Cybertruck accessories β
π Following the Robotaxi rollout? See every operating city, launch date and announced market in our Tesla Robotaxi Tracker.
π€ Tracking Tesla's humanoid robot? See every Optimus production milestone and appearance in our Tesla Optimus Tracker.
Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-06T16:21:23.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-07T00:42:33.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-08T20:55:29.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-08T20:55:21.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-09T14:38:37.000Z) β Direct source
- @SawyerMerritt on X (2026-07-09T20:09:18.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-10T15:57:32.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-13T16:34:27.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-13T16:18:18.000Z) β Direct source
- @JoeTegtmeyer on X (2026-07-13T21:52:49.000Z) β Direct source
Source links are preserved as published or accessed. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
The BASENOR Editorial Desk covers Tesla, SpaceX, and related technology, curating reporting from primary sources β official accounts, regulatory filings, and software release data. Every article passes source-record and fact-checking review before publication. About the newsroom.
This report was curated by the BASENOR Editorial Desk from the sources listed above. Read our editorial standards or email editorial@basenor.com to report an error.
