Battery Cells & Gigafactories

Battery cells are the fundamental energy storage units in electric vehicles, and gigafactories are the large-scale manufacturing facilities that produce them. Together they represent the most strategic tier of the EV supply chain, defining cost, performance, and industrial competitiveness. The rapid build-out of gigafactories worldwide underpins the electrification transition, while innovations in cell format, chemistry, and production methods shape the trajectory of EV adoption.

Breakdown of the estimated number of Tesla battery cells used in their various products:

Tesla Model Y ~= 4,400-5,400 cells (type 2170)
Tesla Cybertruck ~= 8,000 cells (type 4680)
Tesla Semi ~= 20,000-35,000 cells (type 4680)
Tesla Powerwall (13.5 kWh ~= 7,100 cells (type 2170)
Tesla Megapack (3.9 MWh) ~= 217,000 cells (type 2170)
Tesla Optimus ~= 100 cells

Cell chemistries & formats

Cell format influences manufacturing efficiency, energy density, and thermal performance. Automakers choose formats based on pack integration strategies and supply chain maturity.

Battery Cell Gigafactories

Gigafactories represent multi-billion-dollar investments and are increasingly clustered near automaker hubs to secure supply, reduce logistics costs, and meet domestic content rules. Here is a list of all lithium cell factories in the U.S. The average factory consumes 2.4 GW of electricity and 1 million gallons of water daily. See also battery pack gigafactories that assemble the individual battery cells into a functioning battery pack. Some battery cell factories also assemble complete battery packs onsite while others use other factories for this.

The reshoring and building of a domestic lithium battery supply chain is in full swing in the U.S., with a bevy of new battery cell manufacturing plants coming online by 2025.

The states with the most such factories include Michigan, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, which are known as the "Battery Belt".

Battery cell factories worldwide

Here are some of the major EV battery cell factories worldwide, excluding China, which has the lion's share of battery factories.

Why They Matter

Cells and gigafactories define the economics of EVs. Battery packs make up 30–40% of vehicle cost, and cell production scale determines competitiveness. Secure gigafactory capacity is now as strategic as oil refining was for the combustion era, making cell supply a core pillar of national industrial strategies in the U.S., EU, and Asia.

Supply Chain & Risks

Risks include concentration of production in China, raw material volatility (lithium, nickel, cobalt), technology lock-in, and the challenge of scaling next-gen chemistries (solid-state, LMFP). Geopolitical tensions and export restrictions could affect global flows of both materials and manufacturing equipment. Automakers increasingly co-invest in gigafactories to lock in allocations and reduce exposure to external suppliers.

Market Outlook & Adoption (Ranked)