Tesla Inc. – Emissions Trend
Fremont, CA · 2020–2023 · Parent: Tesla Inc
This page assembles 4 consecutive years of EPA Toxics Release Inventory Form R filings for Tesla Inc., spanning 2020–2023. Each annual total aggregates on-site air emissions, surface-water discharges, land disposal, and off-site transfers reported by the facility under EPCRA Section 313, which requires disclosure whenever a listed chemical is manufactured, processed, or otherwise used above threshold quantities.
Reported releases opened at 5.4K in 2020 and closed at 115.0K in 2023 – a increase of 2020.3% over the window. The chart below stacks the four TRI release media (air, water, land, off-site) and overlays the yearly total. The top contributor by cumulative mass is Nickel And Nickel Compounds at 139.1K, followed by Manganese And Manganese Compounds at 13.9K.
Because TRI figures are estimated, not metered, year-over-year deltas can reflect methodology revisions, ownership changes, or shifts in what a facility classifies as reportable, not only physical emission changes. Treat the trajectory as a disclosure record, and cross-reference with the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) system for the fuller regulatory picture on this electrical equipment facility.
Annual disclosure change
What changed: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
- Tesla Inc.'s total reported releases rose from 29.8 thousand lb in 2022 to 115.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Tesla Inc.'s off-site transfers rose from 29.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 114.5 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Tesla Inc.'s air releases rose from 133 lb in 2022 to 471 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Tesla Inc.'s water releases rose from 10 lb in 2022 to 23 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Total Releases by Category
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Year | Total | Chemicals | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.4K lbs | 3 | - |
| 2021 | 17.6K lbs | 5 | +224.0% |
| 2022 | 29.8K lbs | 4 | +69.8% |
| 2023 | 115.0K lbs | 4 | +285.4% |
Top Chemicals by Year
| Chemical | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickel And Nickel Compounds | - | 14.5K | 26.2K | 98.3K | 139.1K |
| Manganese And Manganese Compounds | - | 930 | 14 | 13.0K | 13.9K |
| Cobalt And Cobalt Compounds | - | 2.0K | 3.6K | 3.5K | 9.1K |
| Nickel compounds | 4.5K | - | - | - | 4.5K |
| Cobalt compounds | 629 | - | - | - | 629 |
| Copper | - | 68 | 28 | 235 | 330 |
| Manganese compounds | 306 | - | - | - | 306 |
| N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone | - | 2 | - | - | 2 |
About This Data
Trend data is sourced from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Facilities report annually. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. Year-over-year changes may reflect changes in production, pollution control measures, reporting methodology, or chemical thresholds.
A decrease in reported releases does not necessarily indicate improved environmental performance, as it may reflect production cutbacks, facility closures, or changes in reporting requirements. Similarly, increases may reflect expanded production rather than degraded environmental practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tesla Inc. getting cleaner or dirtier? ▼
What time period does this trend data cover? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.