SpaceX buys Tesla Megapacks for Memphis AI datacenters

SpaceX disclosed on August 4 that it increased purchases of Tesla Megapack battery systems in the second quarter as it built out power infrastructure for its Colossus AI data centers in Greater Memphis. CNBC reported on August 5 that the company spent $295 million on the batteries in the quarter ended June 30, citing financial filings released this week. The second-quarter purchases brought SpaceX's spending on Tesla Megapacks to $329 million for the first half of 2026, CNBC said. The filings add detail to how Elon Musk's companies are supplying power equipment for expanding AI operations near Memphis. ### What exactly did SpaceX buy? Tesla Megapacks are utility-scale battery energy storage systems, and CNBC reported that SpaceX bought $295 million worth of them in the second quarter. The purchases were disclosed in SpaceX financial filings for the period ending June 30, 2026, according to CNBC. The first-half total reached $329 million, which means most of the 2026 buying disclosed so far occurred in the April-to-June quarter. (cnbc.com) CNBC said the Megapacks are being installed to help power SpaceX's Colossus data centers in the Greater Memphis area. ### Why are batteries showing up in an AI data center story? Greater Memphis is where SpaceX has been building out Colossus and Colossus 2 AI facilities, CNBC reported. (cnbc.com) The network said the battery systems are being used to help power those sites and to support their operations. Tesla sells Megapacks for business and utility-scale projects. CNBC said such systems store energy and help sites avoid blackouts, while also giving operators flexibility to draw on stored power from different sources. (cnbc.com) ### How does Tesla show up in the filings? Tesla's own quarterly filing for the period ended June 30 said it recognized $318 million in revenue in the three months and $405 million in the six months from SpaceX purchases of Megapack products in the ordinary course of business. (cnbc.com) That disclosure ties the buyer and seller together across both companies' public filings. Elon Musk leads both companies, and CNBC described the transactions as part of a history of related-party dealings and shared resources across Musk businesses. CNBC attributed that characterization to the companies' record of transactions and personnel overlap. ### Is battery storage the only power source at the Memphis site? CNBC reported that battery systems are only part of the power setup at the Memphis facilities. (sec.gov) The company has also installed and used dozens of natural-gas-burning turbines at the SpaceXAI Colossus and Colossus 2 sites in Greater Memphis, CNBC said. The NAACP has sued SpaceXAI in federal court in Mississippi over continued turbine use without pollution controls or federal permits, CNBC reported. (cnbc.com) CNBC also said residents in Greater Memphis have complained about smell, noise, health problems and air pollution linked to the turbine operations. ### What did SpaceX say about the next buildout? On SpaceX's second-quarter earnings call, Musk said the company planned to expand AI infrastructure and associated power plants. (cnbc.com) CNBC quoted Musk as saying, "Our tentative target is to actually have 20 gigawatts of power and cooling live online by the end of next year," while adding that some projects may not arrive exactly on time. SpaceX's investor relations site lists the August 4, 2026 second-quarter earnings update, webcast and 10-Q. Those are the next public documents for investors tracking additional disclosures on Megapack purchases, Memphis data center expansion and related-party transactions. (ir.spacex.com) (cnbc.com)