Tesla China's 'Cybervault' Announcement Stirs Up Speculation and Guesswork

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla China's 'Cybervault' announcement stirs up speculation
Tesla China's 'Cybervault' announcement stirs up speculation
Tesla

Tesla China has posted a cryptic announcement on its Weibo channel, setting off a flurry of speculation and rumors about the company's plans for the April 3 reveal. The post features an image of an object cloaked in a black fabric called "Cybervault." The accompanying phrases "Who is the protagonist this time?" and "special form, super power-up" have only added to the intrigue.

Possible Theories and Speculations

Several theories have emerged in response to the enigmatic post. Some Tesla owners in China have suggested that the Cybervault could be a new V4 Supercharger produced in Tesla's Shanghai Supercharger factory. However, this theory seems unlikely, given the distinct Cybertruck font used in the announcement.

Other rumors circulating online propose that Tesla might unveil a new Powerwall or Wall Connector featuring a Cybertruck-inspired design. In addition, the recent sneak peek of Tesla's upcoming wireless home charging system has led some to believe that the Cybervault could be related to this development.

An alternative theory speculates that the announcement could be related to something much larger than the mysterious vault, such as a Megapack factory. Recent Tesla Energy job postings in China and ongoing construction near Giga Shanghai suggest that a Megafactory could be in the works. In addition, Elon Musk's rumored visit to China next week lends further credibility to the idea that a significant announcement is imminent.

Social Media Guesses and Fun Theories

Tesla fans have taken to social media to share their theories, with some suggesting possibilities such as "CyberValet," "China semi," and even "Cybertruck merch." Others have noted that the Cybertruck bed is sometimes referred to as a "vault," potentially hinting at a connection to the announcement.

Creative and amusing guesses have also emerged, including ideas like "Cybertruck-themed toenail clippers," "CyberVault as a new kind of electric scooter," and "a Cybertruck-inspired gaming console." While these ideas might seem far-fetched, they showcase the excitement and imaginative spirit of Tesla enthusiasts.

The anticipation surrounding the April 3 reveal has sparked excitement and curiosity among Tesla enthusiasts. As speculation continues to mount, fans around the world hope that whatever product or development is unveiled will not be exclusive to the Chinese market and will eventually make its way to North America as well. With just a few days left before the big reveal, the Tesla community eagerly awaits the unveiling of the enigmatic "Cybervault."

New Castings Spotted at Giga Texas Likely Intended for Tesla Cybercab

By Karan Singh
@JoeTegtmeyer

Tesla’s Giga Texas factory usually gives us the first site of Tesla’s upcoming products. We first saw the Cybertruck and Model Y castings here. With Giga Texas being one of Tesla’s largest factories, it’s logical that most products would originate here.

Tesla has also stated that it intends to manufacture the Cybercab, Semi, the next-generation vehicle, and Optimus at Giga Texas over the coming years. The affordable vehicle and Cybercab were originally intended to be manufactured at Giga Mexico, but the plans for that facility were waylaid by changes in economic policy.

Robotaxi Castings

These new castings were spotted by Joe Tegtmeyer, who regularly does drone flights of Giga Texas. Joe pointed out that these castings don’t look like the usual Model Y or Cybertruck castings usually seen outside Giga Texas.

With an eagle eye, @minusYCore on X also spotted some interesting text on the frames holding the castings up. In particular, the castings say “RTTX050” and “W68-RSF AS-CAST”. These could be interpreted as ‘Robotaxi Texas’ and ‘Rear SubFrame,’ as Tesla marks Cybertruck castings as “CTTX.” The as-cast portion indicates that these particular castings haven’t been trimmed yet, according to the X user.

The castings laid out.
The castings laid out.
@JoeTegtmeyer

The size and shape of these castings—combined with rumors that Tesla’s more affordable vehicle has been delayed—suggest that these castings are intended for the Cybercab.

These castings are much flatter and appear to be a different size than the castings found throughout Giga Texas, indicating that they are intended for an entirely different product.

It’s possible that these are the first castings used by Tesla to test their unboxed assembly process, which the Cybercab is expected to rely on. If you take a closer look at the video below, you’ll note that these new castings look very similar to the ones in the unboxed assembly video.

Interestingly, Tesla did say that they don’t intend to have the Cybercab available for customers before late 2026 or early 2027, but we’ll likely hear updated timelines as Tesla’s Q1 2025 Earnings Call tomorrow.

A more vertical look at the castings.
A more vertical look at the castings.
@JoeTegtmeyer

New Giga Presses

To top it all off, new parts for a Giga Press - the machine Tesla uses to make these castings - were also sighted in Texas. These machines are few and far between, and each one is highly specialized for the particular vehicle it produces. Seeing new parts coming in usually indicates that a new assembly line is under construction, or that changes are being made to an existing line to either expand it or update it.

There’s a lot happening and we will hopefully know more tomorrow evening.

New Giga Press parts
New Giga Press parts
@JoeTegtmeyer

PepsiCo Building Additional Tesla Semi Chargers

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s first large-scale partner for the Tesla Semi - PepsiCo - is building out another Semi Megacharger site per a recent filing found by MarcoRP. Building out these Semi charging sites is expensive due to their much higher power output when compared to Superchargers.

Name Change

Interestingly enough, Tesla appears to have shifted its terminology recently, now often referring to the Semi’s high-power charging solution as Tesla Semi Chargers instead of the previously common "Megachargers." Regardless of the name, these chargers are crucial for the Semi. They’re designed to deliver 1.2 megawatts of charging power capable of adding hundreds of miles of range in roughly 30 minutes.

Frito-Lay Site

The new site detailed in the recent filing will be located at a Frito-Lay production plant on Hageman Road in Bakersfield, California. Permits were filed just a couple of days ago for the installation of eight Tesla Semi Charger stalls along with their associated electrical equipment.

This facility adds to PepsiCo's existing network of chargers, supporting the Tesla Semis operating out of their Sacramento facility, and highlights Bakersfield as the next expansion of the Semi’s operational area. Notably, this new Frito-Lay charging site is strategically located just five miles (approx. 8 km) away from a massive future public charging complex Tesla is planning on Kelton Way.

Kelton Way Charging Complex

Tesla’s planned charging complex in Bakersfield, which is just down the road, will feature 72 Supercharger stalls, as well as 18 Semi charger stalls. According to pre-permits filed last month, this site will be fairly large and accessible to both the public and Tesla’s partners.

A rendering of the Kelton Way site - with the Semi Chargers on the outside, and the Covered Supercharger site in the center.
A rendering of the Kelton Way site - with the Semi Chargers on the outside, and the Covered Supercharger site in the center.
@MarcoRPi1 on X

Tesla plans to develop a vacant plot right off the interstate into a large charging hub, which is now the second major public Semi Charger site we’ve heard about. For now, these sites will remain rare, but we expect that Tesla and its partners will be happy to expand them out further as required.

Carson Semi Charger Site

These Bakersfield developments – both the private Frito-Lay site and the large public Kelton Way hub will help lay out the necssary infrastructure for the Tesla Semi, much like the early days of Tesla’s Superchargers. Since Semi cannot be charged at a Supercharger site (the MCS plug is notably different than NACS), these sites are a must-have.

Tesla's first publicly accessible Semi Charger site planned near the Port of Long Beach in Carson, California, was one of the first signs of these types of Semi Charger facilities being established - and like Kelton Way, it also includes amenities for truck drivers. Tesla is also considering what long, medium, and short-haul truckers need for their stays at these sites.

As Tesla works to ramp up production of the Semi itself, the parallel expansion of dedicated, high-power charging infrastructure by both Tesla and its key partners are essential to making electric heavy-duty trucking a reality.

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