Tesla launches US-made solar panel, a rare sign of life for its solar business

Tesla has updated its online configurator with a new solar panel heavily emphasizing its US manufacturing at Gigafactory New York. It’s a surprising new product launch for a business that Tesla has seemingly been dismantling for the last two years.

For years now, we have been reporting on the slow decline of Tesla’s solar business.

After acquiring SolarCity in 2016, Tesla’s solar deployment has never reached the highs of its predecessor. The situation became dire over the last few years as Tesla stopped scheduling projects in many markets and eventually stopped reporting its solar deployment numbers entirely in 2024.

Instead, the company shifted its strategy to become a supplier, launching an “Installer Day” and pushing its hardware through third-party certified installers rather than its own internal teams.

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But late last year, we saw a flicker of life when Tesla announced it would restart solar panel production in Buffalo. Now, we have the full specs of that product, and it looks like Tesla is finally doing what it promised nearly a decade ago: building its own unique solar module.

The new module, listed as TSP-420, appeared on Tesla’s website today.

Made in Buffalo, Finally

The most prominent feature of the datasheet is the statement: “Proudly made on Earth by humans and assembled in Buffalo, New York, in the United States of America.”

“Assembled in Buffalo” does point to someone outside the US producing the solar cells and Tesla assembling the panels at Gigafactory New York in Buffalo.

But this is still significant. Gigafactory New York (originally built for SolarCity and paid for by the state of New York) was supposed to be the largest solar factory in the Western Hemisphere. However, after the acquisition, Panasonic took over manufacturing there before exiting the facility in 2020. Since then, the factory has been mostly used for Supercharger components and Autopilot data labeling.

For the last few years, Tesla has been white-labeling panels from other manufacturers like Q Cells. This new datasheet confirms they are bringing manufacturing back in-house with a proprietary design.

Giga New York is back to being a solar factory to some degree.

The Specs: 18 Power Zones?

The specs show a 415W and 420W module, which is standard for the current market, we previously reported on Tesla adopting 420W panels back in 2021.

However, the technology inside seems different. Tesla claims the new panel features “18 Power Zones” compared to 6 in a standard panel.

Standard half-cut solar cells usually split a panel into two independent sections (top and bottom) to handle shading better. If Tesla is claiming 18 zones, they are likely using a shingled cell design or a custom string layout that allows the panel to maintain output even when significant portions are shaded.

The datasheet also confirms the integration of the Zep-derived rail-less mounting hardware, which Tesla claims allows the panel to sit closer to the roof for a “minimalist aesthetic” – a tech acquired through the Solar City bailout a decade ago.

Electrek’s Take

On one hand, I am happy to see Tesla finally utilizing Gigafactory New York for its original purpose. The “Power Zones” tech sounds genuinely useful for shading issues, and if they can control the manufacturing cost, it could be a competitive product.

There are some smaller panels out there that have 420 watts of capacity, but if it can handle shading better, it could be more efficient.

On the other hand, what does this mean for Tesla’s solar business?

Tesla has spent the last two years firing its solar scheduling teams and canceling customer orders en masse. They explicitly pivoted to third-party installers. Is this panel only for Tesla’s internal crews (which are now skeletal)? Or will they sell this premium, US-made panel to third-party installers?

I think it’s going to be the latter.

If they sell it to third parties, it competes directly with the commodity panels those installers love to use. If they keep it for themselves, they need to rebuild an installation workforce they just spent years dismantling.

It feels like Tesla’s solar strategy is still a bit of a yo-yo. But at least for now, the solar business has a pulse.

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Trump meets Intel CEO, hails US-Made Sub-2 Nanometer Chip, links manufacturing push to tariff policy

ANI |
Updated: Jan 09, 2026 08:39 IST

Washington DC [US], January 9 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has hailed chipmaker Intel for launching an advanced semiconductor product manufactured entirely in the United States, calling it a major achievement for American industry and a validation of his administration’s aggressive trade and manufacturing policies.
In a social media post, President Trump said he had a “great meeting” with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, praising the company’s technological progress and its commitment to domestic manufacturing.
Trump stated that Intel has launched the first sub-2 nanometer CPU processor that has been designed, built, and packaged in the USA.
“I just finished a great meeting with the very successful Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. Intel just launched the first SUB 2 NANOMETER CPU PROCESSOR designed, built, and packaged right here in the U.S.A.,” Trump wrote in the post.
The US President also highlighted the financial gains made by the US government through its ownership position in Intel. According to Trump, the United States government is a shareholder in the company and has already earned tens of billions of dollars for the American people in just four months through this stake.
“The United States Government is proud to be a Shareholder of Intel, and has already made, through its U.S.A. ownership position, Tens of Billions of Dollars for the American People – IN JUST FOUR MONTHS. We made a GREAT Deal, and so did Intel,” Trump said.
Trump further asserted that his administration is determined to bring leading-edge chip manufacturing back to America, adding that the progress made by Intel demonstrates that this objective is being achieved.
“Our Country is determined to bring leading edge Chip Manufacturing back to America, and that is exactly what is happening!!!” the President added.
Echoing Trump‘s comments, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan also shared a social media post expressing appreciation for the support received from the US leadership.
“Honored and delighted to have the full support and encouragement of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @CommerceGovSecretary @howardlutnick as we bring leading edge chip manufacturing back to America,” Tan said in his post.

He added that Intel is now shipping its latest Core Ultra Series 3 CPU processors, which are designed, manufactured, and packaged in the USA using the most advanced semiconductor technology.
“@intel is now shipping the latest Core Ultra Series 3 CPU processors – designed, manufactured and packaged with the most advanced semiconductor technology, right here in the USA,” the Intel CEO stated.
President Trump has repeatedly linked such developments to his administration’s trade policies. Since beginning his second term as President, Trump has pursued aggressive trade measures, including the imposition of tariffs, with the stated objective of boosting domestic manufacturing in the United States.
Trump has imposed tariffs on countries that were major exporters to the US, including India and China.
On India, Trump has already imposed 50 per cent tariffs on goods entering the United States since August 2025.
In another social media post, Trump cited recent economic data to argue that tariffs have strengthened the US economy and improved national security.
He claimed that the United States has recorded its lowest trade deficit since 2009 and that the figure is continuing to decline.
“Numbers released today show that the United States of America has the lowest Trade Deficit since 2009, and going even lower,” Trump said.
He further stated that the nation’s gross domestic product is predicted to come in at over 5 per cent, even after what he described as a 1.5 per cent loss due to a Democrat “Shutdown.”
Trump attributed these outcomes directly to his tariff policies, saying they have “rescued” the US economy and national security. He also urged the Supreme Court to take note of what he described as historic achievements before issuing what he called its most important decision ever.
“These incredible numbers, and the unprecedented SUCCESS of our Country, are a direct result of TARIFFS, which have rescued our Economy and National Security. I hope the Supreme Court is aware of these Historic, Country saving achievements prior to the issuance of their most important (ever!) Decision. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.” (ANI)

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