Tesla has officially begun operations at its lithium refining facility in Robstown, Texas, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to bolster domestic battery production. The factory, located near Corpus Christi, is the first large-scale U.S. refinery for battery-grade lithium and pioneers an acid-free lithium refining process, a key innovation announced by Tesla when the project broke ground over a year ago.
On Saturday, Tesla announced that the facility had successfully processed raw materials through its kiln for the first time. The site is expected to produce approximately 50 GWh of battery-grade lithium annually once it reaches full production capacity. Tesla emphasized the strategic importance of the refinery, stating, “This investment is critical to our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and represents our efforts to aggressively increase the supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide available in North America.”
This week, we fed raw material through our kiln of our Lithium Refinery outside of Corpus Christi, TX for the very first time!
Increasing lithium refining capacity is critical to a sustainable energy economy pic.twitter.com/TCumnzEEIB
— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) December 15, 2024
The refinery comes online as the U.S. and other Western markets aim to reduce reliance on China, which currently accounts for around two-thirds of global lithium chemical output. By establishing domestic processing capabilities, Tesla’s new facility strengthens the supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and advances the broader goal of energy independence.
Tesla broke ground on the $375 million facility in May 2023, with initial production initially targeted for Q1 2024. The facility is also hiring, with job openings listed on Tesla’s careers page. Its activation represents a key step in creating a robust domestic EV battery ecosystem, as North America seeks to expand both lithium refining and mining capacities to meet rising EV demand.
Notably, a Tesla Cybercab, the company’s recently unveiled two-seat robotaxi, was spotted in the background of a photo accompanying the announcement. The sighting hints at Tesla’s broader ambitions in sustainable mobility as it continues to scale up infrastructure and innovation in the EV space.
