Tesla has updated its online configurator with a new solar panel, highlighting its manufacturing at the Gigafactory in New York, USA. This is a surprising new product launch for a company that has seemed to be winding down its solar business over the past two years.
For years, we have been covering the gradual decline of Tesla’s solar business.
Since acquiring SolarCity in 2016, Tesla’s solar deployments have never reached the heights of its predecessor. The situation became more challenging over the past few years, as Tesla stopped scheduling projects in many markets and eventually ceased publishing its solar deployment data entirely in 2024.
Instead, the company shifted its strategy, pivoting to become a supplier by launching “Installer Day” and promoting hardware through third-party certified installers rather than its in-house team.
However, late last year, Tesla announced plans to resume solar panel production in Buffalo, giving a glimmer of hope. Now, we have the full specifications of the product, and it appears Tesla has finally delivered on a promise made nearly a decade ago: creating its own unique solar module.
This new module, labeled the TSP-420, is now live on Tesla’s official website.
Finally Made in Buffalo
The most notable feature in the data sheet is the statement: “Proudly made by humans on Earth and assembled in Buffalo, New York, USA.”
The phrase “assembled in Buffalo” likely indicates that the solar cells are produced outside the US, with Tesla assembling the panels at its Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York.
Nevertheless, this remains significant. The New York Gigafactory (originally built for SolarCity and funded by New York State) was intended to be the largest solar factory in the Western Hemisphere. However, after the acquisition, Panasonic took over production at the factory and subsequently exited in 2020. Since then, the factory has primarily been used for Supercharger components and Autopilot data labeling.
