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March 6, 2025 7 mins
Michelle opens the episode with a focus on Tesla's recent initiatives in India, highlighting the significance of the new Mumbai showroom lease. The episode moves to discuss the Megapack production facility in Waller County, Texas, emphasizing its role in Tesla's energy strategy. Attention shifts to SpaceX, with details on the Starship's eighth flight test and recent design updates. The conversation continues with insights into Starlink simulators and upgrades to the Super Heavy booster, showcasing SpaceX's technological advancements. The episode concludes with a wrap-up, summarizing the key points and developments discussed.
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Episode Transcript

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(00:00):
Elon Musk's electric vehicle company, TeslaIncorporated, has made a groundbreaking move by
leasing its first showroom in India, located inthe bustling city of Mumbai.
This isn't just any showroom; it's situated inthe upscale Bandra Kurla Complex, a prime
business district that's buzzing with activity.
The lease agreement sets a new national recordfor lease rates at a whopping 881 rupees per

(00:26):
square foot, surpassing the previous recordheld by Apple Incorporated at 738 rupees per
square foot.
This marks a significant milestone in Tesla'slong-anticipated entry into the Indian market,
signaling the company's commitment to cateringto the country's growing demand for premium
electric vehicles.

(00:48):
The showroom, which will serve as a flagshipdestination for Tesla India Motors and Energy,
spans over 4,003 square feet and has beenleased from Univco Properties LLP for a
five-year term.
The lease agreement includes a rent-free perioduntil the end of March, after which the rental
will increase by 5 percent annually.

(01:10):
This strategic move is part of Tesla's broaderplan to establish a strong foothold in one of
the world's fastest-growing automobile markets.
Tesla's entry into India comes after Elon Muskmet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier
this year, where discussions likely includedthe potential for lower tariffs on imported
electric vehicles.

(01:30):
As Tesla actively explores opportunities toexpand its presence, the company is also on the
lookout for manufacturing sites, withMaharashtra being a key location under
consideration.
This expansion into India is a testament toTesla's ambition to revolutionize the electric
vehicle landscape globally.
Tesla has officially announced that it haschosen Waller County, Texas, as the location

(01:54):
for its newest Megapack production facility.
This decision was unveiled during a WallerCounty Commissioners Court meeting, where a tax
abatement agreement was approved, paving theway for the creation of an estimated 1,500
jobs.
The plant will be strategically located at theEmpire West Industrial Park in Brookshire,

(02:14):
further cementing Tesla's presence in Texas.
This new facility will focus on manufacturingthe Megapack, Tesla's large-scale energy
storage system designed for solar energyprojects.
The Megapack has been in high demand as regionsacross the globe search for reliable solutions
to prevent power outages, whether due tonatural disasters or grid failures.

(02:39):
By storing energy, the Megapack ensures thatthe lights stay on even when the main grid
falters.
During Tesla's fourth quarter 2024 earningscall, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the company
had started building its third Megapack plant,although he held back on revealing the exact
location at that time.
Now we know that Waller County is set to housethis monumental project.

(03:03):
This move aligns with Tesla's strategy torapidly increase the output of its stationary
battery storage, supporting the globaltransition to sustainable energy.
Vince Yokom, representing the Waller CountyEconomic Development Partnership, expressed
gratitude towards Tesla for investing in thearea, highlighting the state-of-the-art nature
of the planned facility.

(03:24):
This investment not only represents asignificant economic boost for the local
community but also underscores Tesla'scommitment to advancing energy storage
technology.
With Tesla having already secured a lease onthe building since October 2021, this new
development marks a significant milestone forTesla Energy.

(03:44):
The Empire West Industrial Park location willbe pivotal in Tesla's quest to meet the soaring
demand for its energy products, which haveproven critical in stabilizing energy grids
around the world.
Hold on to your seats, SpaceX fans, because themuch-anticipated eighth flight test of Starship
is gearing up for launch on Thursday, March 6!

(04:05):
The launch window is set to open at 5:30 in theevening Central Time, and you can catch all the
action live with a webcast starting about 30minutes before liftoff on X at SpaceX.
Now, as with all things developmental, theschedule is dynamic and could change, but we're
all hoping for a successful launch day.

(04:26):
This test flight follows an in-depthinvestigation into the early loss of Starship
on its seventh flight test.
SpaceX has made several hardware andoperational changes to enhance the reliability
of the upper stage.
One of the most exciting updates is theredesign of Starship's forward flaps.
These have been modified to reduce reentry heatexposure and simplify their mechanisms.

(04:50):
Additionally, the propulsion system hasreceived a significant 25 percent boost in
propellant volume, allowing for longer flights.
The launch will take place at Orbital LaunchMount A at the SpaceX Starbase in Texas.
This location, near Brownsville, has been a keysite for SpaceX, with 16 rocket launches under

(05:11):
its belt since the late 2010s.
The forecast looks promising with clear skiesand a temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit,
perfect conditions for a rocket launch.
Elon Musk, in his usual candid style on X,mentioned that there were too many question
marks surrounding this flight initially,including low ground spin start pressure.

(05:32):
However, after a thorough inspection of boththe Super Heavy booster and Ship's upper stage,
SpaceX is ready to go again.
This flight is particularly important as itaims to reach new objectives not previously
achieved, including Starship's first payloaddeployment and multiple reentry experiments.
For this mission, SpaceX will deploy fourStarlink simulators to test satellite

(05:55):
deployment strategies.
These simulators are expected to burn up uponreentry.
The flight will also test the re-ignition of asingle Raptor engine while in space and several
experiments focused on enabling Starship'supper stage to return to the launch site.
The Super Heavy booster has been upgraded withmore powerful avionics and smart batteries.

(06:18):
The mission's success criteria include thereturn and catch of the booster, although
safety remains the top priority.
If conditions aren't optimal, the booster willdefault to a soft splashdown in the Gulf of
America.
As always, SpaceX's developmental testing isabout learning and adapting.
By frequently putting flight hardware in a testenvironment, SpaceX continues to push the

(06:43):
boundaries of what's possible, bringing uscloser to Starship's goal of becoming a fully
and rapidly reusable vehicle.
Alright, that's a wrap for this episode.
If you enjoyed this brief, and would like tostay updated on the latest episodes, don’t
forget to click ‘Follow’ in your podcast app.
Thanks again for listening, and hope to catchyou next time.
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