Breaking! Tesla Gigafactory 3 Groundbreaking In China In A Few Hours — UPDATED

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Updated videos and tweets being added continuously as they come in:

Elon Musk in Shanghai. @Tesla @elonmusk @vincent13031925 @teslainventory pic.twitter.com/KpuugQY90x

— Starman Ben (@Starman_Ben) January 7, 2019

China Mainstream media CCTV reported Tesla Shanghai GF3 groundbreaking ceremony.
Target 3000 production per week to start, full capacity 500k/yr
Model Y will start production in GF3, year 2020$TSLA #Tesla #China #TeslaChina https://t.co/Fc1VxyEemS

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

Tesla CEO @elonmusk with Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong at Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory ground breaking ceremony. $TSLA #Tesla #China #TeslaChina #GF3 pic.twitter.com/sIecnGsU71

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

More pictures update from local Chinese media (NBD) about Tesla Shanghai groundbreaking ceremony$TSLA #Tesla #China #GF3 #TeslaChina pic.twitter.com/unwxHCgKTe

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

Update: Shanghai Tesla owners club member reports: Elon Musk just arrived Shanghai GF3 ground breaking ceremony location. $TSLA #Tesla #China #GF3 #TeslaChina pic.twitter.com/Fc2HG1iFvM

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

Shanghai Giga will produce affordable versions of 3/Y for greater China. All Model S/X & higher cost versions of Model 3/Y will still be built in US for WW market, incl China.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2019

Some Elon’s fans from China also showing up at the groundbreaking ceremony to show support!! ❤️$TSLA #Tesla #China #GF3 #TeslaChina pic.twitter.com/dYMlNTSJmf

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

We have been obsessively tracking the progress of Tesla Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China — thanks in large part to info our friend Vincent on Twitter gathers. Now he has news that Tesla is about to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Gigafactory 3 (GF3) in 7 hours.

Breaking: Tesla will have Gigafactory 3 groundbreaking ceremony today in Shanghai, China. Estimate time 3:00-3:00pm Shanghai time Jan 07 2019. Tesla CEO @elonmusk already arrived Shanghai. pic.twitter.com/lBHI99rJCu

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

Getting ready for the Tesla China Shanghai Gigafactory groundbreaking ceremony today!! $TSLA #Tesla #China #GF3 #TeslaChina pic.twitter.com/BnZFvspdfS

— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) January 7, 2019

As you can see in the tweet, Elon Musk has arrived in China for the ceremony.

As we collect more information — most likely from Vincent — we’ll update this story.

As a reminder, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y will initially be produced at GF3, perhaps as early as the end of 2019. For much more background on the giant battery and electric car factory, scroll through our GF3 archives.

UPDATES: We have a few new tweets from Elon about the news:

Aiming to finish initial construction this summer, start Model 3 production end of year & reach high volume production next year

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2019

Shanghai Giga production of Model 3/Y will serve greater China region

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2019

Shanghai Giga output is just for greater China, not North America. Affordable cars must be made on same continent as customers.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2019

Looking forward to breaking ground on the @Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory today!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2019