Tesla Breaks Ground on World's Largest Supercharger, Featuring Solar, Megapacks and Canopies

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s largest Supercharger site today is at the Harris Ranch complex in Coalinga, California. There are a staggering 98 charging stalls. An interesting fact about Harris Ranch is that it was also the first and only battery swap station that Tesla tried back in 2014. While other companies like Nio have continued battery swap stations, Tesla decided to focus on charging instead.

Tesla’s Harris Ranch Supercharger will now be dwarfed by its upcoming 168-stall Supercharger in Lost Hills, California, which will span more than 30 acres.

Solar, Megapacks & Canopies

The new site in Lost Hills has been dubbed Oasis and will be able to charge a large number of vehicles daily. If every spot is filled and a vehicle takes 15 minutes to charge and five minutes to park and plug in, Oasis could charge 4,896 vehicles in a 12-hour period. That’s nearly 10,000 vehicles per day at max throughput, assuming 24/7 usage.

However, that’s not all Tesla is packing into this new Supercharger location. The site will spread across 30 acres and will be home to 11 Megawatts of ground-mounted solar, as well as canopies for a good portion of the installation. With the deployment of 10 Tesla Megapacks, there will also be 39 megawatt hours of energy storage. That storage amount is enough to charge about 650 Model Y Long Ranges by itself.

The groundbreaking crew at the Oasis site.
The groundbreaking crew at the Oasis site.
Not a Tesla App

Max de Zegher, Director of Charging at Tesla North America, mentioned in an article on X that Oasis needs the Megapacks to operate because the local utility wouldn’t be able to meet its power demands. Tesla is leveraging its vertical integration to address the power demand and make the charger a reality, whereas another company may simply not be able to create such a massive charging site in the area.

The Megapacks could also help Tesla offset higher energy costs during peak hours and also help provide power during short outages.

Tesla is working with the local power utility to increase its capacity. While the site will only have access to 1.5 MW at its opening, Tesla will add additional stalls as power availability increases, eventually reaching its goal of 168 stalls.

While this location will be Tesla’s largest Supercharger site in the world, it still pales in comparison to China’s 637-stall charger in Shenzhen. This Chinese charging site supports Shenzhen's all-electric taxi fleet and delivers more than 160 MWh of power daily.

However, this is a fantastic achievement for Tesla, especially when earlier this year, the future of Supercharging was uncertain. We’re excited to see all the stalls, vehicles, solar, and Megapacks around the site, not to mention the likely amenities that will be there. Tesla may also include one of its special Superchargers here, possibly one to celebrate the world’s largest Supercharger.

What Is the Cybertruck's Jack Mode and How to Use It

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Did you know the Cybertruck’s air suspension automatically levels the truck, even while it’s asleep? This is a great feature, especially for camping or off-road adventures. However, it can be an issue when lifting a wheel to change a tire.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: Jack Mode.

Jack Mode

Jack Mode is made for jacking up the truck and prevents the Cybertruck from self-leveling.

To enable Jack Mode, you’ll first need to set the Ride Height to Medium from Controls > Dynamics > Ride Height. You can also set it from the Tesla app by navigating to the Controls section and sliding up until you see Ride Height. This will give you enough clearance for most jacks to get under the truck and lift it.

You can also activate Jack Mode in Low or High, but Tesla recommends a Medium ride height for best control of the vehicle and sufficient tire clearance to safely remove and reinstall the tire. However, once the vehicle is in Jack Mode, the Ride Height cannot be changed.

Next up, go to Controls > Service > Jack Mode to enable Jack Mode. The vehicle will warn you that Jack Mode is enabled and can either be disabled by pressing the button again or by putting the vehicle into drive.

For the duration that Jack Mode is active, it is safe to lift your Cybertruck, even on one side only. It will not self-level for the duration that Jack Mode is enabled.

Automatic Jack Mode

Jack Mode can also activate automatically to protect the suspension from potential damage. For example, if the vehicle’s bumper is resting on a curb, Jack Mode may engage on its own.

Once the obstacle is cleared, or if you shift into Drive or Reverse, Jack Mode will automatically be disabled.

How the 25% Auto Tariffs Will Impact Tesla

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

On March 27, the U.S. Administration announced a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles and foreign-made automotive parts, an attempt to strengthen domestic manufacturing. Currently, Tesla and Rivian stand out as the major EV automakers with a predominantly U.S.-built lineup.

In this analysis, we’ll explore the potential impact of these tariffs, examining key factors and what they mean for the industry moving forward.

Percentage of American Parts

One key item we want to point out here before we continue is that the NHTSA defines North American made parts as parts built in either the United States or Canada - Mexico is not included in this number. In November 2024, we found out the percentage of parts Tesla uses that come from the U.S. and Canada. At the top we have Tesla’s Model 3, which uses 75% North American parts.

We’ll be sticking with overall percentage of North American parts since we don’t actually know what percentage Tesla sources from Canada. We do know today that some cameras, essential die parts, and other key components are sourced from Canada for nearly every vehicle in Tesla’s lineup - so it isn’t an insignificant percentage.

Insulated from Tariffs?

At first glance, Tesla may seem insulated from these tariffs. However, its dependence on a global supply chain—particularly parts moving across the U.S.-Canada border under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—adds complexity to the equation. Additionally, potential retaliatory tariffs from Canada could further pressure Tesla, a trend already evident in the company being excluded from multiple EV incentives across the country.

While Canada isn’t Tesla’s largest market, it still accounts for a meaningful share of sales. Even a small decline in that market could have a noticeable impact on the company’s bottom line.

Domestic Advantage

Tesla’s domestic advantage is impressive—it manufactures all vehicles sold in North America at just two facilities: Tesla Fremont and Gigafactory Texas. The initial 25% tariff, set to take effect on April 2, 2025, applies to cars and light trucks assembled outside the U.S., likely dealing a heavy blow to competitors like Hyundai and Volkswagen. According to a Goldman Sachs report, these tariffs could drive up vehicle prices by $5,000 to $15,000.

However, this advantage is partially offset by exemptions under the USMCA. To avoid the full tariff, vehicles and parts must meet a strict “rules of origin” requirement, meaning at least 75% of components must come from the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. This exemption remains in place until May 3, 2025, when the second stage of tariffs kicks in—targeting non-U.S. content more directly.

Effectively, the NHTSA and USMCA’s existing framework for defining “North American-made” components is being upended. This shift plays to Tesla’s strengths, but to understand the full impact, we need to take a closer look at its supply chain.

Supply Chains

Tesla’s supply chain is deeply integrated across North America. Approximately 25% of the Model 3 Long Range RWD and AWD comes from Mexico - and some undefined percentage also comes from Canada. That number rises significantly for the other vehicle’s in Tesla’s line-up, which is available in the chart below from early November 2024.

Phase 2 of the tariffs will place an increasing impact on Tesla - especially as it won’t be simple nor quick for Tesla to move all part production to the United States. 

Vehicle

Pct made in US/Canada

Model 3 LR AWD/RWD

75%

Model 3 Performance

70%

Model Y (All Variants)

70%

Cybertruck

65%

Model S

65%

Model X

60%

Battery Production

This is particularly evident in Tesla’s reliance on Canadian minerals, which are crucial for its battery production. Tesla sources key materials like nickel, lithium, and cobalt from Canadian mines, with most of these resources being shipped across the border in an unrefined state. Currently, these shipments face a relatively low 10% tariff from Canada. However, potential retaliatory tariffs could drive costs higher or even restrict access to these essential minerals.

While limiting access may seem extreme, Ontario has already threatened to halt nickel exports from Canada’s largest nickel mine to the U.S.—a move that could pose a serious challenge for Tesla.

Even Elon Musk has acknowledged that Tesla won’t emerge from these tariffs unscathed.

Retaliatory Tariffs

Tariffs are rarely a one-way street. Canada and Mexico are likely to respond with retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-made auto parts or vehicles. Both countries have already explored reducing EV incentives by excluding Tesla from certain rebates. Additionally, there have been discussions about imposing tariffs specifically on Tesla, partly due to Elon Musk’s political involvement.

Consumer Impact

Several scenarios impacting consumers can unfold in response to these upcoming tariffs.

In the short term, higher prices for competitors could drive more customers toward Tesla as they seek more affordable products. However, increased import costs could force Tesla to either absorb the expense or raise prices—potentially offsetting any sales gains.

Cox Automotive, a leading industry analyst, has warned that by mid-April 2025, North America could see reduced production, tighter supply, and rising vehicle prices. Tesla, despite its domestic production, won’t be immune to these effects due to its reliance on a continental supply chain.

To mitigate long-term costs, Tesla could explore securing domestic mineral rights—an expensive move initially but one that could provide stability if tariffs remain in place for years under the current administration.

However, Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja acknowledged during the Q4 2025 Earnings Call that the company remains heavily dependent on global parts sourcing. Given Tesla’s own admission of the impact, consumers should expect price increases as the company adjusts to the shifting trade landscape.

What to Take Away

Overall, the 25% tariff presents a double-edged sword for Tesla. While it may offer short-term advantages by making competitors’ vehicles more expensive, long-term, Tesla will also be impacted. Tesla’s reliance on cross-border parts, coupled with potential retaliatory tariffs, could quickly escalate costs and increase vehicle prices.

As the political landscape around tariffs continues to evolve on what seems to be a daily basis, Tesla will need to navigate these changes carefully. Tesla’s supply chain has been optimized for cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Any changes that happen could be driven by the new tariffs. Tesla may be forced to make changes that prioritize reducing tariff costs, potentially at the expense of efficiency. However, if these policies continue to evolve or if tariffs are later removed, Tesla is then stuck with a less-efficient supply change.

The company will likely address these challenges in detail during the Q1 2025 Earnings Call, though that remains several weeks away.

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