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Elon Musk Announces $16.8B Terafab Megafactory in Texas

WireByte Staff · August 7, 2026

Tesla and SpaceX have announced plans to construct Terafab, a semiconductor megafactory in Grimes County, Texas. With an initial phase cost of $16.8 billion, the completed complex is projected to exceed 100 million square feet. If finished, it will surpass China's New Century Global Center to become the largest building on Earth, significantly expanding domestic chip manufacturing capacity.

Key points

  • Elon Musk, the chief executive officer of Tesla and SpaceX, confirmed plans for the joint semiconductor project named Terafab.
  • The facility will be constructed in Grimes County, Texas, located just outside Houston.
  • The first phase of the development carries a price tag of $16.8 billion.
  • The completed complex is slated to exceed 100 million square feet, making it over five times the size of China's New Century Global Center.
  • Musk stated on social media that the project aims to create a sci-fi city and projected it would become the most valuable building globally.

Tesla and SpaceX have officially confirmed plans to construct a massive semiconductor production complex known as Terafab in Grimes County, Texas, just outside Houston. Elon Musk, who leads both companies, stated that the joint venture aims to establish what he described as a sci-fi city and the most valuable building on Earth.

The initial phase of the project carries a staggering price tag of $16.8 billion. Upon completion, the massive facility is slated to top 100 million square feet in total footprint. This scale would dwarf existing mega-structures, measuring more than five times the size of China's New Century Global Center, which currently holds the record at approximately 18.9 million square feet.

The proposed footprint would also easily surpass other notable U.S. complexes combined, including the Pentagon at 6.6 million square feet, the Mall of America at 5.6 million square feet, and Apple Park at 2.82 million square feet. The initiative marks a major expansion in domestic semiconductor manufacturing efforts by Musk's enterprises, integrating production capabilities between the electric vehicle maker and the aerospace manufacturer.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.