February 14, 2025: Tesla launched production at its Megapacks ESS battery plant in Shanghai on February 11, just eight months after construction began.

China’s State Council said the plant, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 units, or around 40GWh, would support Tesla’s ambition of a 50% increase in the firm’s global energy storage system projects this year.

Investment in the Shanghai facility, which spans around 200,000m2, was the equivalent of about $202 million, according to officials in the Shanghai pilot free trade zone, where the plant is sited.

Plans to invest in the plant were originally announced in 2013, although no figure was confirmed at that time.

Work started on building Tesla’s car manufacturing plant in Shanghai in early 2019 and the facility went into operation within a year.

Tesla VP Mike Snyder said the battery plant would be a cornerstone of Tesla’s global production network, adding: “We’ve witnessed the incredible speed of Shanghai and Tesla once again. I’m excited to have this factory kick off an exciting year for Tesla.”