Tesla’s Lithium Refinery in Corpus Christi Shows Major Progress Toward Full Operation

Corpus Christi, Texas – October 12, 2025 – Tesla’s ambitious lithium refinery project in Robstown, near Corpus Christi, is making significant strides, with recent site visits revealing a facility on the brink of full-scale production.

Drone videographer and Tesla enthusiast Joe Tegtmeyer shared updates from his October 11 visit, noting, “The cranes are almost all gone, the superstructure looks nearly completed, the site had a ‘cleaned up’ look to it and there were signs of production activity!” These observations suggest the plant is transitioning from construction to operational phases.

The refinery, which kicked off lithium production in December 2024, is designed to process raw lithium into battery-grade materials using an innovative, acid-free method. Tesla aims to ramp up output to support 50 GWh of battery capacity annually, equivalent to powering about 1 million electric vehicles. Recent reports indicate it’s on track to reach full capacity around this month.

This development bolsters Tesla’s efforts to secure a domestic supply chain for critical battery materials, reducing reliance on foreign sources amid growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions.