Tesla's Dry Electrode Breakthrough: Mass Production of 4680 Batteries Announced

Elon Musk recently announced on the social media platform X that Tesla has successfully achieved scalable mass production of its dry electrode process. This development marks a significant and notoriously difficult breakthrough in lithium-battery manufacturing technology.

As the core manufacturing process behind Tesla’s bet on the 4680 large cylindrical battery, the mass production of dry electrodes has been the primary bottleneck over the past few years. Originally proposed by Tesla in 2020, the dry electrode technology aims to eliminate traditional solvent coating and drying steps, thereby streamlining the process and reducing both costs (by over 50%) and energy consumption.

Regarding vehicle integration, the dry process 4680 cells were initially prioritized for the Cybertruck. However, due to prolonged production challenges with the electrodes, Cybertruck output remained suboptimal for an extended period.

Now, the landscape is shifting. In its latest financial report, Tesla indicated it has begun producing Model Y units equipped with 4680 battery packs. This move creates a new supply source to mitigate increasingly complex supply chain challenges driven by trade barriers and tariff risks.

With the 4680 making its return to the Model Y alongside Musk’s official declaration of scalable dry battery production, industry observers are asking: Does this signal the formal, widespread adoption of dry 4680 cells in the Model Y?

A key indicator is Tesla’s recent disclosure that its Austin, Texas Gigafactory has achieved mass production of the 4680 dry electrode process, manufacturing both cathode and anode materials locally. As Tesla’s deployment hub in the U.S., the Texas plant is not only responsible for Cybertruck and Model Y volume but also bears the burden of breaking through the yield rate barriers for the dry 4680 cells.

What substantive cost and efficiency gains will the dry 4680 bring to the Model Y?

First, Tesla’s dry 4680 cylinder is a comprehensive amalgamation of innovations, including a full-tab (tabless) design, high-nickel cathodes, silicon-based anodes, and the dry coating process itself. According to Musk’s initial projections, the cell could increase energy density by five times, boost range by 16%, increase power by six times, and reduce costs per kilowatt-hour by 56%.

Furthermore, third-party testing on the tabless 4680 design highlights the advantages of large cylindrical packaging. Results show a 70% reduction in internal battery resistance and a six-fold increase in peak charge/discharge capabilities. This implies a drastic improvement in fast-charging performance, potentially allowing a 0-80% charge in just 10 minutes.

Compared to the Chinese market, where fast charging has become a technical anchor for battery competitors, the widespread adoption of the dry 4680 in the Model Y would significantly strengthen Tesla’s competitive moat in North America.

Moreover, integrating this technology into the Model Y is expected to leverage cost advantages to drive a new cycle of performance growth. According to Tesla’s financial data, automotive sales revenue for 2025 hit $69.526 billion, a 10% year-over-year decline, with Model 3 and Model Y deliveries totaling 1.585 million units—a 7% drop.

Viewed alongside the reduction of Model X and Model S production lines, the strategy suggests that a Model Y equipped with dry 4680 batteries will become the core business driver for 2026. With the lineup already evolving into Standard, Long Range, and Model YL variants, the scalable production of dry 4680 cells is poised to support the entire Model Y family.

Edit by paco

Last Update:2026-02-04 08:36:35