Autonomous Driving! Caisson, Batch Plant & Switchyard Work! 3 Feb 2025 Giga Texas Update (09:25AM)

From Joe Tegtmeyer.

Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, Cyber Truck the Next Generation Car(s), Cybercab & the Optimus Robot production happens in 2025!

At Giga Texas, the morning started out foggy with low ceilings, but it cleared up enough to get in a full flight! Today was a milestone day for Tesla as they began using autonomous driving of new vehicles instead of employees to transport new vehicles from the factory to the west end of the line facility! Giga Texas now joins Fremont as the first two Tesla factories using FSD in this way!

Timestamps:
Drone flight overview with discussion & illustration: 0:06 to 5:38
Drone flight footage & infographics: 5:45 to 34:49

There has been significant work on the paving lines and marshaling lanes near the end-of-line facility. Tesla is starting to utilize these areas which will aid in the autonomous car deliveries and staging for final processing in the End-of-Line facility. Several Cybertrucks were observed exiting from the cyber tunnel this morning, but they were not autonomously driving today as human drivers were visible in each Cybertruck.

Regarding new vehicles, a refreshed red Model Y was seen alongside an older Model Y of the same color, allowing for a direct comparison between the two. This was near the west main entrance where Security personnel have set-aside parking spaces.

There was substantial work with the sinking caissons on both sides of the south bridge. The caisson on the east side has reached its final depth of approximately 40 feet (~12 meters), with some water visible at the bottom.

On the west side, additional concrete was being placed on the top caisson ring, and there was visible rebar sticking out of the top, indicating that it will get at least one more ring of concrete. We can expect this caisson to sink further into the ground. Clamshell excavator buckets hanging off the end of the large crane were preparing to remove mud and dirt from the bottom of the caisson, which also seemed to contain a significant amount of water.

At the revised temporary batch plant, materials for making concrete have been moved into the concrete block-lined handling slots. The truck cleanout bays have been poured with concrete, and nearby, the lined pond had standing green-tinted water, suggesting that the plant is nearing operational status and will soon replace the old Martin Marietta batch plant, which is being dismantled.

At the old Martin Marietta batch plant, earthwork continues around the perimeter, along with soil sampling using drill rigs in various locations. The concrete apron at ground level is being broken up with an impactor (numerous holes were visible in the concrete) for removal. Nearby, crews were dismantling equipment, and excavators were preparing to drain and then eventually back-fill in the lined pond once the liners are removed.

Finally, at the electrical switchyard, the screw-type piers and top mounting plates are completed, with most steel beams welded into place. Trench work for the electrical conduit is progressing, and a large conduit bank is being finalized to connect a new Megapack site to the electrical switchyard.

More details and visuals are available in the accompanying images and video. I’ll continue looking to capture autonomous vehicle movements in the coming days and weeks.

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Be sure to check out additional Texas Gigafactory footage on these channels:
@Jeff Roberts
@Brad Sloan

Video, photos, illustrations, and commentary on this video is by me, Joe Tegtmeyer unless otherwise annotated.

Music in this video is obtained from the YouTube free and unrestricted and royalty-free use library. Ending song is Mr. Sunny Face – Wayne Jones

Drones used are DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2 & Air 3.

Drone flight over Giga Texas is with permission of Tesla and CEO Elon Musk