Gail has a bachelor of art in film/radio/tv and a bachelor of science in nursing
She has worked for years caring for all ages of people with many diagnoses in over 5 hospitals and schools around the texas hill country
Originally from north dakota, she is now based in austin and writes about sustainable energy for the website she created ‘What’s up Tesla’ and 'What's up Twitter' and maintains her nursing practice
(Austin, Texas) On a sunny day in June, I activated Tesla FSD beta in my Model Y and supervised the vehicle as it crossed through downtown Austin and into the famous Meullar neighborhood of Austin. This area was once the home of Austin’s only airport. I watched as it was relocated to Southeast Austin and then the Meuller area emerged as a healthcare center with Dell Children’s Hospital and the must-see Austin Children’s Museum. I spent many many hours with my 5 kids in that museum, visiting it often. Additionally, I worked many long hours at the Children’s Hospital. Now, Mueller is one of the most desirable places to live in Austin!
I hope you like this Podcast Episode No. 16 as I aim to show you the charm of Meuller, the amazing capabilities of FSD beta in the Model Y, and Safety Settings in the Tesla.
Safety Settings
Dashcan settings are part of Safety Settings. I show how to activate this at 09:25 in the video. You can also activate “Cabin Overheat Protection,” as I show in the video. Please explore all settings in your Tesla and especially focus on safety settings. If you ever have an accident you’ll want to go back and see what your cameras have saved. Additionally, you are more likely to prevent an accident when you activate more of the safety settings. Happy driving and enjoy the podcast!
Gail’s Tesla Podcast #16 FSD Beta in Austin, Mueller area and a look at Safety settings ⚡️🚘⚡️ pic.twitter.com/HSsvaYe6pE
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
Hardworking, dedicated, future-driven, committed, fearless… these are adjectives that describe the amazing Tesla team, and Elon Musk. These qualities are paying off as Tesla is ranked #1 in leading the transition to EVs.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released its report on May 31 revealing Tesla and BYD at the top of ratings for leading the transition to electric vehicles.
The top 20 manufacturers in the world were analyzed for overall ratings based on 10 custom-built metrics, which identified the leaders, the transitioners, and the laggards in transitioning to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). Tesla had the highest scores in Technology Performance, scoring a perfect 100 in Energy Consumption, Charging Speed, Driving Range, and Battery recycle/repurpose.
Tesla’s strategic vision did not go unnoticed
Tesla was the only automaker that scored a perfect 100/100 in Strategic Vision for ZEV target, Investment, and Executive Compensation.
Among the laggards are Tata headquartered in India, and Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, and Suzuki.
These automakers scored in the bottom third.
Table. Overall scores, The Global Automaker Rating 2022. Credit: International Council on Clean Transportation.
My take is that Tesla has and continues to put forth extraordinary effort at building EVs at scale. Tesla continues to expand Fremont factory, Giga Shanghai, Giga Berlin, Giga Nevada and Giga Texas. This shows that Tesla has thought about how to speed up and scale production to meet the global demand for good-quality electric vehicles. Tesla furthers this strategy by building their own batteries. Soon, Tesla will be refining Lithium (in Texas) and building more affordable vehicles in Mexico.
To read the ICCT report in full click here. Many thanks to the entire Tesla team for their dedication to the mission to accelerate the world to sustainable energy and their commitment to not being complacent. This article by Gail Alfar first appeared on Twitter, please credit accordingly.
(Austin, Texas) If you’re in Texas & taking delivery of your new Model 3 between May 26 and June 30, 2023 then you are in for some good luck!
Tesla Electric has unveiled a sweet home charging plan and qualifying customers in Texas will seamlessly charge their new Model 3 at home and have their overnight charging fee waived for a year.
UNVEILING THE TESLA ELECTRIC HOME CHARGING PLAN
Tesla Electric has gone above and beyond to cater to the needs of Texas Tesla owners. With the charging plan, eligible customers can seamlessly charge their new Model 3 at home without incurring any overnight charging fees for an entire year.
This plan provides financial savings & also eliminates the hassle of locating and utilizing charging stations, giving owners freedom and convenience. I expect this plan will expand soon.
To take advantage of this remarkable opportunity right now, Texas residents must meet specific eligibility criteria. Those who are taking delivery of a new Model 3 between May 26 and June 30, 2023, fall within the qualifying window. Link on details below.
This limited offer is an amazing chance for Texas Tesla owners to save money and maximize the benefit of owning an EV while minimizing their carbon footprint
THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION
The introduction of the Tesla Electric Home Charging Plan reinforces the strong commitment Tesla has to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. By incentivizing home charging, Tesla aims to simplify the charging process and promote the use of renewable energy sources.
I expect this plan to roll out to more Tesla owners over time.
SEIZING OPPORTUNITY
If you are a lucky Texas resident patiently awaiting the arrival of your new Model 3, do seize the opportunity. Participating in Tesla Electric Home Charging Plan means you will enjoy the convenience of charging your vehicle overnight at home, free of charge, for an entire year.
Gail Alfar and Dirty Tesla on FSD Beta drive for Gail’s Tesla Podcast, May 2023
Austin, Texas
One of the pleasures of owning a Tesla or planning to buy one is the proliferation of videos online that feature how great FSD beta is. If you have not yet heard of Dirty Tesla, he’s a fabulous video creator on the X app, and he has published many videos with his expert commentary.
Join Dirty Tesla and Gail Alfar as they head across the city of Austin, Texas, to the Austin Airport using FSD beta. Dirty Tesla has fabulous observations and I think you will enjoy the ride!
Gail’s Tesla Podcast #15 —> FSD beta to Airport Guest: @DirtyTesLa joins us for rush hour traffic trip w/ ~ 100 wild observations on FSDbeta! pic.twitter.com/tkzULnkqlX
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
(Austin, Texas) In a significant move towards accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and supporting sustainable transportation, Tesla and Ford have announced a strategic partnership.
Elon Musk shared his vision for the Tesla Supercharger Network on a live Twitter Space.
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) has been described as an easily adoptable interface, positioning it as a potential public standard. This article looks at the details of this collaboration, highlighting Elon Musk’s statements and Tesla’s perspective on the NACS.
TESLA’S COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND EQUAL FOOTING AT SUPERCHARGERS
Jim Farley announced that,
“In early 2024 all Ford EV existing and future customers will have access to 12,000 Tesla high speed Superchargers across the USA.”
Farley also said one year later, Ford EVs will have the North American Charging Standard (NACS) interface.
Ford has been working with the Tesla team and Farley thanked Elon for that.
EARLY NEXT YEAR YOU’LL SEE FORD’S EVS CHARGING ALONGSIDE TESLA VEHICLES
During the discussion with Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, on the Twitter Space, Elon spoke regarding the Tesla Supercharger Network. Elon emphasized,
“We don’t want the Tesla Supercharger Network to be like a walled garden, we want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general.”
Elon expressed appreciation for Ford’s interest in partnering with Tesla on this front and affirmed the Tesla team’s intention to provide full support to Ford, ensuring that they are on equal footing at Tesla Superchargers.
I can personally attest that in Texas there is plenty of room for more vehicles to charge at Buc-ee’s locations!
NACS: A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND POTENTIALLY PUBLIC STANDARD
Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) has gained attention for its flexibility and compatibility. Described as a purely electrical and mechanical interface, NACS remains agnostic to use case and communication protocol.
This versatility makes it straightforward to adopt across different EV models. Notably, Tesla has made the design and specification files of the NACS available for download, actively engaging with relevant standards bodies to establish its charging connector as a potential public standard.
This move reflects Tesla’s outstanding commitment to promoting interoperability and widespread adoption of charging infrastructure.
Is the Tesla-Ford Partnership Revolutionizing EV Adoption and Sustainable Transport?
Yes! The partnership between Tesla and Ford signifies a huge stride towards accelerating EV adoption and promoting sustainable transport.
Living in Texas, where pick-up trucks dominate the roads, I have firsthand experience that highlights the pressing need to accelerate the adoption of EVs. I drive across Austin daily, and am surrounded by combustion engine cars and pick-up trucks. Texas is known as Truck Country by some.
I can’t help but reflect on the tremendous work required to transition to a more sustainable transportation system. In light of this, the announcement of the partnership between Tesla and Ford struck me as a brilliant move.
From my perspective, Tesla, with its exceptional engineering talent, is demonstrating philanthropy by sharing its expertise to support Ford and advance the cause of electrification.
Tesla’s NACS offers a straightforward and potentially public standard that fosters compatibility and interoperability among different charging connectors. As these initiatives unfold, the future of electric mobility becomes increasingly promising, with shared efforts aimed at building a beautiful, greener and more sustainable economy.
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Article by Gail Alfar, please credit accordingly. Images Courtesy Tesla, Inc. and Ford, Inc.
Elon Musk will hire a 3rd party organization to investigate Tesla’s supply chain for Cobalt, a rare mineral in order to assure shareholders and others that Tesla does not exploit child labor in any way. Elon was asked, during the Q/A portion of the shareholder’s meeting on May 16, 2023, to do this, and he agreed.
I had the honor of attending the meeting in person and I saw firsthand when Elon said this from the stage. He emphasized that the phones we all use have more Cobalt than Tesla’s batteries, and that he’s thinking of installing webcams at the mines to make sure no child is ever harmed.
I turned to Eliza Bleu for a little more understanding on this issue, as she had been asking me recently about Tesla’s supply chain and I had referred her to some information from Tesla’s recent Investor’s Day, summed up well in a tweet by Martin Viecha, Tesla Investor Relations,
“If you want just one takeaway from Investor Day, make it this one: A sustainable economy will result in *less* mining/extraction than we currently do. *Zero* rare earths are needed for this transition. Too many smart people I know believe the opposite.” – Martin Viecha
In addition, Elon Musk has also emphasized how clean Tesla’s supply chain is for it’s batteries. Tesla’s Lithium and Iron based batteries do not contain any Cobalt, while those made with Nickel use a very small amount of Cobalt as a binder.
Please watch Tesla’s videos on Investor DayandShareholder Meeting 2023 for reference. Also, Tesla’s next gen motor will require ZERO rare earth minerals. Less mining and extraction are also needed for a clean energy future as compared to a fossil fuel based economy.
MY INTERVIEW WITH ELIZA BLEU
Gail: Do you find that company CEOs are willing to face the challenge of creating a clean supply chain for rare earth minerals like cobalt?
Eliza Bleu: I’ve found that there is a vast difference between what CEOs are being told and the in-depth research that has been done by folks like Siddharth Kara, author of “Cobalt Red,” on the ground. It would be incredible if CEOs sought the truth and worked aggressively to find solutions!
Gail: When you heard that Elon Musk is going to hire a third-party organization to do this for Tesla, what was your first reaction?
EB: I’m a survivor advocate, so any little glimmer of hope brings a tear of joy to my eye. I take a moment to enjoy the positive progress before I think about the long road ahead. I applaud Mr. Musk for making those statements. I believe that he will follow through and continue to set the industry standard.
Gail: What is your expectation, for companies that use a lot of rare earth minerals, like companies that produce the phones that we use every day? Do you think they will continue to use components in their products that require rare earth minerals?
EB: The time has come for this conversation to fully see the light of day. I expect tech companies to seek the truth about their supply chains from start to finish. The entire industry will move away from cobalt eventually but between now and then there should be drastic measures to ensure that child labor and human exploitation is not used. Even when companies move away from cobalt it won’t repair the damage done to the Congolese people. It also won’t account for the labor trafficking and human exploitation in other parts of the supply chain. Apple is notoriously bad in this way.
The tech industry is uniquely positioned to provide those that work in the mines with basic needs like electricity, water and PPE. The brightest minds in the world can prioritize these issues. I’m grateful for Tesla’s commitment. I have hope around this issue and the first step is getting everyone to admit that there is a problem industry wide. The next step is to cut through the PR nonsense and to put humans over profits. The future of technology is bright but it cannot be built on the backs of children.
Tesla is one company among many that uses cobalt. I hope that Mr. Musk’s commitment sparks a long overdue industry wide conversation.
CONCLUSION
Despite challenges, there is hope that other CEOs will confront the issue of clean supply chains for rare earth minerals like cobalt.
Elon Musk’s decision to involve a third-party organization for Tesla sets a positive example, and it is crucial for the entire industry to engage in transparent discussions and prioritize human well-being over profits to drive meaningful change.
Elon Musk talks at Tesla 2023 Shareholder Meeting. Image by the author.
Cybertruck, 2023 Shareholder’s Meeting. Photo Courtesy Sarah Alfar.
(May 20, 2023 Austin, Texas)
“The goal is to give people hope, realistic hope, and simply to say that there is a path to a fully sustainable global economy, that we are on that path, that we are accelerating that path, and so long as we don’t get complacent about it, it will happen.” – Elon Musk at Shareholder Meeting on Master Plan 3
At the heart of Tesla’s success lies Elon Musk, the incredible Tesla team, and a dedicated community of individuals who are passionate about the company and its mission.
For this article, you’ll get to come along with me to the shareholders meeting and we’ll start in the line of cars and then meet some awesome people! Let’s set the time machine back to May 16, 2023, and hop in my Tesla.
IMAGINING YOU ARE WITH ME AT THE SHAREHOLDER’S MEETING
Joining a long line of cars, we are very close to Gigafactory Texas and we see production at scale in action in front of us. Numerous deliveries on large, semi flatbeds are pouring in as we wait, car carriers leave the factory loaded with new Model Y. The battery cathode plant and die shop are huge. The employee parking lot is overflowing.
You get the window seat once we’re on the bus ride to the entrance. The bus lumbers off around the Gigafactory. I say I could do this ride over again 50 times and you tell me I’m a little extreme (I disagree, haha).
We see a holding lot filled with Model Y as far as the eye can see. Model Y are charging at a George Jetson style charging bay shaded by solar panels. Next up, a loading lot where inspections are being done, then cars line up to wait for their turn onto a car carrier. There are long lines of car carriers.
You pass several employee parking lots, they are bigger than you expected.
The tour bus drives closer to the Gigafactory, and a cool shadow is cast over the bus as you gaze up. We both gasp. The bus feels tiny as we crane our necks to look up to the rooftop. The roof is covered with solar panels that spell out “TESLA,” but you already know that from when you flew into Austin.
While we wait to tour the Tesla Semi, a graffiti artist is creating Cybertruck art on the side of a shipping container. The day is perfect, 80 degree weather, a few puffy clouds, we’re lucky to be here!
You think you almost lost me after the Semi tour but then find me ogling the Cybertruck and the German-made Model Ys on the other side of the street. The size of the truck is bigger than you expect. The Berlin Model Y paint is glamorous under the sun to say the least!
TOUR
As we enter the Gigafactory Tour, it’s apparent it’s in full production and did not shut down at all for this event, rather it looks like it’s under an even higher pace than imagined. Employees are actively working on model Y, and the production line is visible and moving along fast. We hear occasional happy beeps from Model Y under production and it sounds like they’re saying, “hey, I’m glad you came to see us.”
We’re able to see the ground floor and then climb up stairs to the second floor and look down, which is incredible. The factory is so big and everything looks so clean and everybody working looks like they have purpose and order in what they do.
As a tour guide instructs us on the manufacturing processes in a video, you and I are more interested in listening to the sounds in the factory and watching the production line below, it’s an all inspiring vision, seeing these vehicles being brought to production at scale, and being there in person, is an experience that feels like the future. It inspires us to think about how incredible it is to be a part of Tesla’s success just by being a supporter and investor.
Reality kicks us in the face while the security guard says “hey ma’am, your tour is leaving.”
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I hope this gave you a feel for if you had been at the Tesla shareholder Meeting. For the remainder of this article, I’ll introduce you to three inspiring people I had conversations with.
FROM TESLA OWNER TO INVESTOR
Winston was wearing a Longhorn shirt and the “Don’t Mess with Tesla” belt buckle which caught my eye. He and his daughter Anne were waiting in line at the Tesla store.
Winston told me he bought a Model 3 in 2020. He said the minute he stepped into his Tesla, the experience was so incredible that right away, knew he needed to invest.
He now uses FSDbeta all over Houston, and he would not travel around any other way.
I told him I had also used FSD beta in Houston and it was flawless. (My Podcast #14 is all in Baytown & Houston)
WITNESSING THE NEW EVOLUTION OF NORMALCY
I always respect the confidentiality and privacy of Tesla employees, so I’ll just briefly share with you what one employee said while keeping him private. Without mentioning his position at Tesla, I can say he looked at Tesla with a blend of optimism and amazement. He told me he loves working at Tesla and compared it to what he knew about car manufacturing before he was hired. As a kid, he grew up in Detroit and his father worked in automotive manufacturing. He would visit the factory and remembers it for the awful smell of toxic fumes.
At Tesla, “you can actually walk through it and breathe clean air. It doesn’t even seem like a car factory at times. I am experiencing the new evolution of normalcy.”
SUPPORT FOR ELON MUSK FROM NORTH CAROLINA
Just outside the Tesla Gigafactory, near some oak trees, there was a handful of food and beverage trucks. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a slushie and looked for a shady place to eat. This is how I met the Whitley family. Dan Whitley’s love for Elon and Tesla was evident in his commitment to being a part of the Tesla mission.
Dan explained to me that he supports Elon Musk because, “I think he’s a believable person and I think he’s got a kind heart and I believe in his mission and believe in him and just try to support him the best I can.” Laughing, Dan said, “And I’ve got 8 Tesla’s so I’m supporting him!” I asked if this was normal for N. Carolina, and he said. “The company spoke to me, they have a good mission and I want to support them.”
CONCLUSION
The conversations I had with people at the shareholder meeting offer a glimpse into the passion and devotion people have for Tesla and in the vision of Elon Musk. for some, it even made them rethink their future. William Cross from Connecticut was at the Shareholder Meeting. I caught up with him later, and he told me how the experience left an impact on him. “It really made me rethink what I’m doing here. I fell in love with the South. I want to learn more and one day work for Tesla or SpaceX.”
The company Tesla as a whole inspires many people, and Elon is highly respected and supported by many. When you hear negative talk about Elon Musk, please realize that is a small minority. A small, very vocal minority. They, in no way, represent what most people truly think.
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Article by Gail Alfar. please credit accordingly. Thanks to Tesla for being amazing. Thanks to Elon Musk and all my subscribers and readers on Twitter who support my writing in many different ways, I appreciate you very much. Video Courtesy @Tesla Inc., Pic credits Sarah Alfar and Greggortruck.
(Houston, Texas) Welcome to Houston and the Baytown area on Tesla FSD beta!
Come along as we go inside a huge Gastby-like mansion and then hop back in the Tesla to take FSD beta over to the Houston Space Center to visit the Falcon 9 booster on display there.
You’ll enjoy this video as it not only features the best autonomous software on earth in a car, but it also features views of Houston from atop high roads and bridges. I have tried to put together a very special video for you. I believe this is one of my best episodes. Enjoy!
Gail’s Tesla Podcast #14 fSDbeta to a 🎩 Gatsby mansion and visit 🚀 Falcon 9 at the Space Center & Baytown Texas oil country 🛢️ pic.twitter.com/gKygWdztr2
Children playing soccer in the shadow of oil refineries in Houston
One interesting part of my journey on FSD beta into the Houston area was the overarching dominance of oil refining in the city. Homes, soccer fields, communities, stores, and roads, all exist near massive oil refineries. The pictures I did not share lie in my head. They are of the countless roads and bridges that are stained with streaks of black soot. The black lines can’t be cleaned and are a result of burn-off from the refineries. One friend of mine who grew up in South Texas across the street from a refinery tells me that many many people he knew suffered from bad health because of this. Of course, we still need a lot of oil to keep the gears running in our world. And soon, hopefully, in your lifetime, we will see a global economy based on fully sustainable energy.
You can read more about that in my blog post about Elon Musk’s Master Plan 3, linked below this article. Have a lovely day!
Gail Alfar, author. Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – All Rights Reserved. My goal as an author and podcaster is to support Tesla (the most American vehicle manufacturer) and Elon Musk in both making life better on Earth for humans and becoming a space-fairing civilization.
In the middle of a field just outside of Corpus Christi, along Texas Route 69E in the heart of Nueces County, six flags were flying at half-staff.
Two American flags, two Texas flags, and 2 Tesla flags.
Texas has gone through some difficult days. In the aftermath of a mass shooting in Allen, Texas, and tragic deaths in Brownsville, there is something bright happening to bring hope and prosperity to the state.
GOOD NEWS FOR TEXAS
Many people made the trip out to the site of Tesla’s new lithium refinery to celebrate in a ground-breaking with Elon Musk, and Tesla employees. As people sat under the tent, a large and unexpectedly modified version of the Cybertruck slowly drove past all six flags. The driver, curved around and parked center stage under a beautiful archway, bearing the words “Tesla Lithium.”
That driver was Elon Musk. There will be lots of pictures of Elon exiting Cybertruck center stage as almost everybody was taking either video or a picture of this special occasion.
Earthmovers in the background, preparing the land for the new factory kept working the entire time as Elon, wearing a Don’t Mess with Tesla belt buckle, handsome suit, and black cowboy boots, took the microphone and explained that this will be one of the largest lithium refining factories in the world, producing enough lithium for 1 million vehicles.
“It will produce more battery grade lithium than the rest of all the North American lithium refining capacity combined.“
Kathleen Hogan from the US Department of Energy stated that Tesla has,
“been a leader in the EV space for a long time and now they’re being an amazing leader by building out the clean energy supply chain here in this country, it’s amazing to see the jobs that are going to be here. We talk in Washington DC about the muscle we need to build out US manufacturing, and where is the muscle? The muscle is in the workforce and that muscle is going to be here, with the young people that will be coming onto the training in Teslas programs.”
TEXAS GOVERNOR HONORS ELON MUSK AND TESLA
I could not take my eyes off the Cybertruck, glistening in the Texas sun and adorned with a waving Texas flag. This massive utility vehicle with custom black racks served as the backdrop when Texas Governor Abbott spoke,
“We would not be here but for the vision, the hard work, and the commitment of Elon Musk and Tesla. Elon brought his Gigafactory here and liked it so much that he brought
Tesla here and then the Boring Company here, SpaceX is here, Neuralink is here, in the Lonestar state!”
Abbott presented Elon Musk with a proclamation from the State of Texas in appreciation of him & all Tesla employees and in honor of the new Tesla Lithium refinery.
TECHNOKING AND TEAM GIVE A TED TALK
Some people mistake Elon Musk for a celebrity. I agree he has that status, and I see him as a technologist or engineer first, before any other role.
He is the Technoking of Tesla. And what follows is a short TED talk on battery refining. To an attentive audience, Elon explained,
“We’re aiming to finish construction next year and hopefully reach full production about a year later. This is extremely fast by normal standards, but that’s how we do things. As I said, the capability we’re aiming for is approximately 1 million vehicles worth of battery-grade lithium and the potential is there to expand beyond that number as needed.
“We intend to continue to use suppliers of lithium, so it’s not that Tesla will do all of it.
We thought it’s important to address what we think is – as we look ahead a few years – a fundamental chokepoint in the advancement of electric vehicles… the availability of battery-grade lithium.
“Lithium for mining is actually quite common. Lithium is actually a very common element on Earth, it’s actually present, basically in every country. It’s not that there’s a shortage of lithium to mine, but there is a shortage of heavy industry refinement to battery grade. Lithium actually has to be extremely precise and ultra-pure, because if you have any impurities in the Lithium it causes degradation of the battery
“Purity requirements are extremely high and we got a number of innovations that we think will be quite effective in the refining of Lithium that haven’t been done before.
Tesla SVP Powertrain and Energy Engineering Drew Baglino explained that the talent that is applicable in oil and gas refining is the same type of talent that is applicable in lithium refining.
This is a reason why this area, South of Corpus Christie, was chosen as the location to build Tesla Lithium.
Another innovation with Tesla lithium is the pure process which does not produce airborne or ground waste which would affect the community in a negative way.
Following a detailed explanation of lithium refining, essentially a short interesting Ted talk which you may watch in full on Tesla’s Twitter Livestream, it was time to break ground.
EIGHTEEN PEOPLE JOIN TO BREAK GROUND.
This groundbreaking was like none I’ve ever seen. On a large length of ground, eighteen people lined up with silver shovels. Tesla provided shovels for everyone, and it was a happy, celebratory event full of hope for the future.
This is a wonderful moment that is much needed in Texas. As families heal from the recent tragedies, life goes on, people grow older, get married, have babies, and work to provide for their loved ones. Tesla is becoming a part of modern Texas culture. Governor Abbot said it well,
“There is no greater entrepreneur in the entire world than Elon Musk. We are so proud he calls Texas home. Elon Musk and Tesla are part of the Texas economic juggernaut.”
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Article by Gail Alfar, all rights reserved. All photos Courtesy Tesla, Inc. Gratitude to Drew Baglino, Elon Musk and Ellie in Space for being present at the event. Tesla team including Rohan Patel and Kathleen Hogan.
I’m surprised by how much action I see in the early hours of the morning around Austin. The airport in Austin is busy, the roads fill with people heading to work, and the sun starts rising over my favorite city in the world.
Austin is the second highest-ranking city in the world (Hangzhou, China is #1) for the highest number of millionaire residents, according to a recent study by Henley & Partners.
Opportunities and hope are a big draw for people and Tesla is playing a major role in the shaping of the new Austin. This article will explain why.
GIGA TEXAS: JULY 2020 – PRESENT
The beginnings: In July 2020, I made trips 2 to 3 times a week to East Austin to start observing the groundbreaking of Tesla’s Gigafactory, in Texas. There, amid the dust and the sound of massive earthmoving machines, I met Joe Tegtmeyer, Jeff, Roberts, and Jack Farrington. All three were creating drone videos of Giga Texas’ progress, and all were convinced of the positive impact Tesla was having on Austin.
Tesla’s HQ – in a massive structure: In October 2021, Elon Musk announced that Tesla’s Global HQ would be Giga Texas.
Attracting investors and talent: Meanwhile, Austin attracted the second-highest number of millionaire residents in the world, and many workers and businesses relocated to Texas finding low taxes were a big advantage during a time when many people were working remotely.
Producing best-selling vehicles at scale: Today, Tesla’s beautiful Gigafactory at “1 Tesla Road” is established and producing Model Y vehicles at incredible speed!
In April, Tesla announced Giga Texas is building 4K Model Y per week! This is being done with the hard work of thousands of employees.
Busy gigafactory: An Uber driver told me that “GigaTexas has rock concert vibes, only at 5 AM in the morning! There’s double-decker buses, trams, cars lined up, 4-5 full parking lots, factory full swing!”
AUSTIN IS A LEADER IN JOBS
Austin is the #2 city in the nation for overall employment opportunity and earning potential in a study published by Chekr, an HR tech firm, in April 2023. Having a job, making an honest living is a big part of building a happy, productive life.
Tesla’s 2022 Impact Report says,
“Tesla created over 128,000 direct jobs in a decade. Our employee count has grown approximately 70-fold over the past decade—and we continue to hire extensively. Gigafactory Texas and Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg are already recruiting for thousands of jobs.”
Tesla’s Careers website lists hundreds of jobs in Austin, giving the opportunity not only to make a living with great benefits but also to be a part of building a sustainable energy future.
CONCLUSION
Tesla made Austin its HQ and is a mass producer of both JOBS and VEHICLES.
Austin is a destination for some of the nation’s most successful investors and business people.
The manufacturing at scale we see at Giga Texas is an example for other vehicle manufacturers and also shows how important manufacturing is to the economy of the USA.
Giga Texas will put Austin, Texas on the map as a leader in manufacturing in the USA!
-Pictured below with this article is the beautiful best-selling Model Y
-Elon Musk at Cyber Rodeo in April 2022 delivering the first Model Ys made in Texas
-Giga Texas at 1 Tesla Road, the HQ for Tesla.
Article by Gail Alfar, all rights reserved. Sources referenced in article are Tesla 2022 Impact Report, @HenleyPartners @Checkr @peterdog @tegtmeyer @jackfarrington All Images Courtesy @Tesla Inc.
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