SpaceX says it bought $329 million of Tesla Megapacks this year

In short: SpaceX says it has spent $329 million so far in 2026 buying Tesla Megapack battery systems.

What happened

SpaceX reported in a regulatory filing that it bought $295 million worth of Tesla Megapacks in the second quarter of 2026, and $329 million so far this year. The numbers were disclosed in SpaceX’s earnings report.

A Tesla Megapack is a large battery system used to store electricity, kind of like a giant power bank for a building. These systems are often used to provide backup power and to help manage sudden spikes in electricity use.

TechCrunch reported that the batteries are likely being used at xAI data centers. A data center is a warehouse full of computers that runs online services and AI systems. Before xAI merged with SpaceX, xAI had bought $430 million worth of Megapacks for its data centers, and only $34 million worth in the first quarter of 2026.

The purchases also highlight how closely connected Elon Musk’s companies are. Musk leads SpaceX and Tesla, and SpaceX has also absorbed xAI.

Why it matters

AI data centers can pull a lot of power at uneven times, depending on what the computers are doing. Big batteries can fill in the gaps quickly, which can help keep operations steady and avoid extra costs from sudden power surges. For regular people, this is one more sign that growing AI use is pushing companies to spend heavily on electricity and backup power.

Source: TechCrunch AI