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SpaceX founder Elon Musk stated on Saturday that the company’s upcoming Gigabay manufacturing facility at Starbase could enable production of Starships at “massive volume,” potentially reaching as high as 10,000 vehicles per year.

Musk’s comments came in response to a video post highlighting the $250 million, 700,000-square-foot Gigabay, currently under construction at SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas. The facility, designed for high-volume assembly and refurbishment of Starship rockets, is initially targeted to support production of up to 1,000 reusable Starships annually. “Yes, at massive volume. Maybe as high as 10,000 ships per year,” Musk posted via X on January 4th.

Yes, at massive volume. Maybe as high as 10,000 ships per year. https://t.co/XYolfwaVBi

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2026

The Gigabay, which broke ground in 2025, is expected to be completed by December 2026. It will feature 24 work cells, heavy-lift cranes capable of handling 400 tons, and space for integrating full Starship and Super Heavy vehicles up to 81 meters tall. The structure aims to transform Starbase from a primary testing site into a full-scale production hub.

SpaceX has long positioned Starship—the world’s most powerful rocket system—as key to enabling frequent, reusable launches for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Achieving 1,000 vehicles per year would mark a dramatic scale-up from current aerospace manufacturing rates, while 10,000 would represent an unprecedented industrial feat comparable to high-volume automotive production.

Musk’s vision aligns with SpaceX’s broader goals of Mars colonization, requiring thousands of Starships to transport cargo and crew. The company conducted 167 successful launches in 2025 across its Falcon and Starship programs, demonstrating rapid progress in operational cadence.

Construction of the Gigabay continues, with tower cranes already in place at the site adjacent to existing Starfactory buildings. A similar facility is also underway in Florida to support additional production capacity for Lunar and Mars missions.

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