Tesla has recently revealed that the inaugural Cybertruck, which harnesses lithium from its self-built refinery along Texas’s Gulf Coast, has commenced production at Giga Texas. Elon Musk shared the official announcement, captioning it, “Lithium made in the USA.” This vehicle is outfitted with Tesla’s proprietary 4680 batteries, with all battery-grade lithium hydroxide within the cells originating from Tesla’s very own lithium refinery in the Gulf Coast.

The refinery’s construction kicked off in 2023, with operations slated to begin in early 2026. It utilizes a low-acid, eco-conscious method to convert spodumene concentrate into lithium hydroxide for batteries, directly supplying this material to the 4680 cell production line at the Austin facility. Once the cells are packaged, the batteries are seamlessly integrated into the Cybertrucks manufactured within the same factory complex. This setup achieves a fully closed-loop industrial chain, where lithium refining, battery production, and vehicle assembly are all carried out in Texas.