Tesla's Robstown lithium refinery becomes fully operational, North America's largest

Tesla/Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery

Tesla's 20,000 metric ton per year lithium hydroxide refinery in Robstown, South Texas reached full operational capacity, making it North America's largest facility of its kind and the first owned directly by an automaker. Using an acid-free spodumene leaching process, it feeds refined lithium hydroxide to Tesla's cathode production at Giga Texas.

• 20,000 metric tons annual capacity of lithium hydroxide, supporting roughly 30 GWh of battery production
• Acid-free processing route avoids corrosive waste and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 30% versus conventional lithium refining
• First automaker-owned refinery; previously Tesla relied on third-party refiners
• Vertical integration reduces supply chain risk and battery cost by controlling feedstock and reducing dependence on external suppliers