What lead? 99% of their battery volume is coming from Panasonic or CATL or other chinese manufacturer, Their 4680 cell has same power density as panasonic as of today and they are only producing a tiny tiny volume today.
Do you think current production is the best they have?
I don’t.
The current production battery is most likely the most cost-efficient in terms of getting them into cars at the volume required, but I imagine that this could change very quickly if deemed necessary.
Tesla is much more likely to announce a great new battery before they've even started working on it than after it's almost ready.
The other is a moat.
They absolutely are not going to announce/reveal their moat, especially when it loses a lot of its value as a moat when it is revealed.
It seems like there are some doubters here.
Just remember that you heard it here first when it happens.
Expect 500-600 mile range for current vehicle line and substantially lower prices for current “long”range of ~320 miles, probably sold as one-motor “standard range” in order to keep the markets siloed.
I am willing to bet that there is a new design that is “in the can”.
I am also willing bet that they will continue optimizing that design until the market dictates that it has to go to production.