Tesla has updated its online configurator with a new solar panel that highlights its manufacturing in the United States, at its Gigafactory New York. The move marks an unexpected new product launch for a business that Tesla has seemingly been dismantling for the past two years.
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For years, we've been reporting on the slow decline of Tesla's solar business. After acquiring SolarCity in 2016, Tesla's solar installation never reached the highs of its predecessor. The situation became critical as Tesla stopped planning projects in many markets and eventually stopped reporting solar installation numbers in 2024.
Instead, the company changed strategy to become a supplier, launching an “Installer Day” and promoting its hardware through certified third-party installers instead of its own in-house teams.
However, late last year, we saw a glimmer of life when Tesla announced it would restart solar panel production in Buffalo. Now, we have the full specifications for that product, and it looks like Tesla is finally doing what it promised nearly a decade ago: building its own unique solar model.
The new model, referred to as the TSP-420, appeared on Tesla’s website today. The most prominent feature of the datasheet is the statement: “Proudly made on Earth by humans and assembled in Buffalo, New York, United States of America.” This suggests that while the solar cells may be manufactured outside the U.S., Tesla assembles the panels at its Gigafactory New York.
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This is significant because Gigafactory New York was originally built for SolarCity and was intended to be the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere. After the acquisition, Panasonic took over production there before vacating the facility in 2020. Since then, the factory has been used primarily for Supercharger components and Autopilot data labeling.
In recent years, Tesla has used panels from other manufacturers like Q Cells. This new datasheet confirms that they are returning to in-house production with a proprietary design, suggesting that Giga New York is returning to its roots as a solar factory.
The specs show a 415W and 420W model, which is standard for the current market. Tesla previously mentioned adopting 420W panels in 2021. However, the technology inside looks different. Tesla claims the new panel has “18 Power Zones” compared to 6 in a standard panel.
Standard half-cut solar cells typically split a panel into two independent sections to better manage shading. If Tesla claims 18 zones, they're likely using an overlapped cell design or a custom string arrangement that allows the panel to maintain performance even when significant sections are shaded.
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The datasheet also confirms the integration of Zep-sourced rail-less mounting hardware, which Tesla claims allows the panel to sit closer to the roof for a "minimalist aesthetic.".
