Altmaier announces help: Tesla's Gigawerk near Berlin is really giga

The electric car manufacturer is building a new plant at the gates of Berlin. And CEO Musk hinted that it could become the largest in the company. He also showed interest in a new battery consortium.

The planned Tesla factory in Grünheide, Brandenburg, could turn out to be larger than previously expected. This is what Federal Economics Minister Peter Altmaier indicated after a conversation with Tesla boss Elon Musk on the occasion of the European conference on battery cell production. Musk said "that he stands by his investment project in Brandenburg and that it will probably be one of the largest gigafactories ever, possibly also the largest in the entire Tesla group". In this case, Altmaier also promised government support: "If it will be the largest that Tesla has ever built, then you can calculate that it will be a considerable subsidy."

Tesla plans to build around 500,000 compact Model 3 and Model Y cars in Grünheide near Berlin every year. It is the first plant to manufacture both cars and batteries. At the appearance Elon Musk also announced new compact models especially for the European market and longer ranges than before. He did not provide any information on time periods.

The EU conference was about the two major European battery alliances with already 500 industrial participants and more than 60 companies. The first of the two projects of common European interest (IPCEI) with seven EU member states was approved under state aid law a year ago and was supported with 3.2 billion euros. The car manufacturer BMW, the chemical company BASF and the battery manufacturer Varta are all involved.

The second consortium is "in the final phase" and shortly before completion, said the Vice President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic. "It would be best if that could be done before the end of the year." Tesla had expressed an interest in participating. Altmaier has not yet announced whether the US electrical manufacturer is actually among those involved. "We remain true to our tradition: only when the IPCEIs have been applied for and approved will we make the details public."

According to Altmaier, Musk originally wanted to have a video message recorded for the battery conference, but then took part in person. "That was a very important confirmation that our cooperation is on an important path, as a European also with Elon Musk," said Altmaier. The CDU politician also emphasized that he was working with many companies from Asia, such as the battery manufacturers SVOLT or CATL, which is building a factory in Erfurt, Thuringia. "We don't see the whole thing as either or, but as both and."

. (tagsToTranslate) Economy (t) Tesla Motors (t) Peter Altmaier (t) Elon Musk (t) Electromobility (t) Car manufacturer (t) Auto industry (t) Battery cells (t) US car manufacturer