With a quiet smile, Elon Musk walked through the Tesla factory, proudly showing his son and daughter the future they were helping shape—one innovation at a time.

In the heart of Gigafactory Texas, amid the hum of robotic arms and the gleam of freshly assembled electric vehicles, Elon Musk embarked on a personal journey that blended family bonding with groundbreaking innovation. It was a rare, intimate glimpse into the life of the world’s most enigmatic entrepreneur, as he guided his young son, X Æ A-12, and daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, through the sprawling facility. This wasn’t just a casual visit; it was a deliberate effort to instill in them the vision of a sustainable, high-tech future that Tesla is pioneering. As the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, Musk has always blurred the lines between his professional ambitions and personal life, and this factory tour exemplified that philosophy.

Gigafactory Texas, located in Austin, spans over 10 million square feet and serves as Tesla’s headquarters for vehicle manufacturing, battery production, and cutting-edge research. Opened in 2022, it has rapidly evolved into a hub of innovation, producing models like the Cybertruck, Model Y, and the upcoming affordable Model 2. On this particular day in early 2025, Musk arrived with his children in tow, dressed casually in a black Tesla hoodie and jeans, contrasting the high-tech environment around them. X, at five years old, clutched a small toy rocket—a nod to his father’s SpaceX endeavors—while Exa, four, gazed wide-eyed at the towering assembly lines. Musk’s quiet smile betrayed a deeper pride; here was a man not just building cars, but shaping legacies.

The tour began at the entrance, where massive solar panels and wind turbines powered the entire operation, embodying Tesla’s commitment to renewable energy. “See this?” Musk said softly to his kids, pointing to the energy storage systems. “This is how we make sure the factory runs on clean power, just like the sun fuels our adventures.” Tesla’s factories are designed from the ground up to minimize environmental impact, with Gigafactory Texas achieving near-zero emissions through integrated solar roofs and Megapack batteries. In 2025, Tesla announced expansions to its energy division, aiming to produce over 100 GWh of battery cells annually, enough to power millions of homes and vehicles. Musk explained this to X and Exa in simple terms: “These batteries are like giant Lego blocks that store sunshine, so our cars can go forever without hurting the planet.”

As they moved deeper into the factory, the group approached the vehicle assembly line, where robots danced in precise choreography. Tesla’s use of AI-driven manufacturing has revolutionized the automotive industry, reducing production times and costs. In 2025, Tesla unveiled its “Master Plan 4.0,” focusing on autonomous mobility and AI integration. Musk knelt down to X’s level, showing him a robotic arm welding a Model Y chassis. “This robot is smarter than most people think,” he chuckled. “It learns from every car it builds, getting better each time.” The kids watched in awe as the line churned out vehicles at a rate of one every 30 seconds. Tesla’s production capacity hit new highs this year, with analysts projecting nearly 500,000 deliveries in the third quarter alone, driven by updates to the Model 3 and Model Y.

One of the highlights was the Cybertruck zone, where angular, stainless-steel beasts rolled off the line. Introduced in 2023, the Cybertruck has become a symbol of Tesla’s bold design ethos, with its bulletproof exoskeleton and off-road capabilities. Musk hoisted Exa onto his shoulders for a better view. “This truck can go anywhere—mountains, rivers, even space if we wanted,” he joked, eliciting giggles. In 2025, Tesla rolled out enhancements to the Cybertruck, including improved range exceeding 500 miles on a single charge and advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) hardware. Musk shared how the vehicle’s steer-by-wire system eliminates traditional mechanical linkages, making it more responsive and safer. “Imagine driving without a steering wheel,” he told his daughter. “That’s the future we’re building right here.”

Transitioning to the battery production area, Musk delved into the science behind Tesla’s 4680 cells, which promise higher energy density and lower costs. “These are the hearts of our cars,” he explained, holding up a prototype cell. Gigafactory Texas is at the forefront of this technology, with production ramping up to support the upcoming Model 2—a compact, affordable EV slated for mass production in late 2025. Priced under $25,000, the Model 2 aims to democratize electric vehicles, targeting emerging markets and first-time buyers. Musk’s vision here is clear: accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. He pointed out the dry electrode process, a 2025 innovation that reduces manufacturing energy by 75%, making batteries cheaper and greener. X reached out to touch a conveyor belt of cells, his eyes lighting up as Musk described how these power not just cars, but homes via the Powerwall system.

The family then ventured into the research and development wing, a restricted area buzzing with engineers testing autonomous driving prototypes. Tesla’s FSD software, now in version 12.5, incorporates end-to-end neural networks that mimic human decision-making. In 2025, Tesla secured first place on Cars.com’s American-Made Index, underscoring its domestic manufacturing prowess. Musk demonstrated a simulation to his kids: a virtual car navigating city streets without human input. “One day, cars will drive themselves, and you’ll have more time to play,” he said with a wink. This ties into Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions, with prototypes undergoing real-world testing. The Dojo supercomputer, powered by Tesla’s custom chips, trains these AI models, processing petabytes of data from the fleet.

Amid the tech talk, Musk paused for heartfelt moments, sharing stories of his own childhood in South Africa and how curiosity drove him to create companies like Tesla. Born in 1971, Musk immigrated to Canada at 17 before building his empire in the U.S. His family life has been complex; he shares X and Exa with singer Grimes (Claire Boucher), along with their younger sibling Techno Mechanicus. Musk also has older children from his marriage to Justine Wilson—twins Vivian and Griffin, now in their early 20s, and triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian, approaching 19. Additionally, with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, he has twins Strider and Azure, and two more recent additions, bringing his total to 14 children. Despite public scrutiny, Musk emphasizes population growth and family values, often integrating his kids into his world. “The future belongs to those who dream big,” he told X and Exa, echoing his philosophy.

As the tour wound down, they visited the design studio, where concept sketches for future models adorned the walls. Tesla’s 2025 updates include refreshed exteriors for the Model S and X, with aerodynamic tweaks boosting efficiency. Musk sketched a quick robot on a napkin for his son, tying into Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot project. Set for deployment in factories by 2026, Optimus represents Musk’s broader AI ecosystem, linking Tesla with xAI’s Grok models.

Wrapping up, Musk lifted Exa into a prototype Model 2 for a mock drive, her laughter filling the air. This quiet family outing wasn’t just about showing off gadgets; it was about passing the torch. In a world facing climate challenges, Tesla’s innovations— from AI manufacturing to affordable EVs—offer hope. As they exited, Musk’s smile lingered, a reminder that behind the billionaire persona is a father nurturing the next generation of innovators. One step, one innovation at a time, the Musk family is shaping tomorrow.