Tesla to Spend $2.9B on Chinese Solar Equipment to Accelerate U.S. 100GW Capacity Buildout

According to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the matter, Tesla is in talks with several Chinese companies to purchase approximately $2.9 billion (around RMB 20 billion) worth of solar panels and battery manufacturing equipment. This move aims to support Tesla's goal of establishing 100 GW of solar manufacturing capacity in the United States. Key suppliers include Suzhou Maxwell Technologies, Shenzhen Jieteng Weichuang, and Laplace New Energy. Some of the equipment requires Chinese export licenses and is targeted for delivery to Tesla’s Texas factory by this fall. The new capacity will primarily serve Tesla’s own operations and SpaceX’s satellite power needs. Despite U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on China, the domestic solar supply chain remains heavily dependent on Chinese-made equipment. Notably, the U.S. has excluded solar manufacturing equipment from tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to accelerate domestic supply chain development. Following the report, shares of the involved Chinese companies rose immediately.