The latest tech, including AI data centers and Tesla’s electric vehicle factories, takes a massive amount of space. Tesla Owners from Silicon Valley have recorded a video to show just how long it takes to drive past the Tesla gigafactory in Austin, Texas, at 80 mph, and judging from the video, it took one minute to drive past the Tesla factory at 80 mph. Walking the distance would clearly take a lot longer.
The Austin factory is 2,500 acres and over 10 million square feet. It’s about 0.8 miles long, making it the second-largest building in the world by volume.
While people worry about these huge factories and their effect on the local infrastructure, one social media user commented on the Facebook video with a positive vibe. Rather than slamming the world’s first trillionaire and Tesla boss, Elon Musk, the Facebook user wrote:
“Think of how many jobs this created building this facility? Think of how many jobs it created running it? Think of all those spin-off jobs it created for restaurants, stores, housing, & so many more businesses? Elon Musk is a phenomenon.”
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However, another Facebook user noted: “Imagine working there about to go home and you left your keys the other end of the building.”
He does have a point.
New Massive Tesla Gigafactories Coming Soon
The EV maker isn’t finished yet, and according to Not a Tesla App, the next giant factory is planned for Mexico. Musk made the announcement at the recent Investor Day, saying it will be built in Nuevo Leon and will be the world’s largest EV plant. Reportedly, Canada was also rumored to be in the running, but for now, it looks like they have been left out in the cold.
Meanwhile, this announcement follows several months of speculation and contact between Musk and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The latest call was held the night before the Investor Day event.
As with the comment of the Facebook user, this new factory is set to bring up to 6,000 jobs to the region. Moreover, Tesla is reportedly considering producing batteries in Mexico.
Musk Hints at Tesla Gigafactory in Canada
Back in August 2022, at a shareholder meeting, Musk asked the audience where the next Tesla gigafactory should be built. He answered: “We get a lot of Canada. I am half-Canadian. Maybe I should?”
What started as a few trucks on the road turned into an incredible rolling display of the Tesla community heading toward Hidden Falls Adventure Park for the 2026 Cybertruck Rodeo. Hundreds of owners, enthusiasts, families, and future EV owners came together for one unforgettable… pic.twitter.com/uw5GvXQRzv
— Tesla Austin Owners Club Official Account (@AustinTeslaClub) June 13, 2026
Reportedly, the company has already had a positive impact in Canada, with a total contribution to the country’s GDP in 2021 of $762 million. The company has also provided 6,645 full-time jobs for Canadians, which is a positive note.
More Gigafactories Coming Soon
Meanwhile, the EV company is planning 10-12 more gigafactories worldwide. When construction starts on the Mexican site in three months’ time, Tesla will reveal which vehicles are planned for production in the Nuevo Leon factory at an official event at that time.
No doubt, it will take around the same time to drive past the new gigafactory at 80 mph.