Tesla’s supercharger network expansion has taken a step back in the third quarter. The company added only 2,800 superchargers during this period, a significant decrease compared to the over 3,000 added in the same quarter of 2023. This slowdown in charging infrastructure growth seems to have bypassed areas of interest for Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s other venture, SpaceX.
Despite the general slowdown, Tesla has shown a keen interest in providing charging facilities for those visiting SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas. The company recently opened 16 charging stalls in Robstown, Texas, just a short drive from Starbase, where SpaceX conducts its Starship launches. This move was specifically aimed at accommodating visitors attending the fifth test flight of Starship, which took place on Sunday. Additionally, Tesla is opening 8 charging stalls in Mathis, Texas, this month. The company’s focus on expanding the network near Starbase became evident in June when Tesla announced a new 16-stall supercharger station in Boca Chica Boulevard, potentially catering to tourists eager to witness Starship launches.
While Starbase is located in Texas, the state also houses Tesla’s headquarters and one of its gigafactories. Tesla has added nearly 100 charging stalls in Texas over the last three months, accounting for approximately 3.5% of its global supercharger additions. However, it’s worth noting that the company has announced a global growth of 23% year-on-year in the number of superchargers, reaching over 62,000 connectors worldwide.
The slowdown in supercharger network growth may be attributed to the company’s layoffs in April, impacting 500 members of the supercharging team, including the departure of Tesla’s then Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure, Rebecca Tinucci. Despite the layoffs, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dismissed rumors of the supercharger network’s decline as exaggerated, emphasizing its ongoing growth. He reiterated the company’s commitment to investing $500 million in expanding the network this year, a goal he first announced in May.
