Spread over 300 ha, Tesla’s German mega-factory will start production by the end of March, nearly eight months behind the initial schedule. Ultimately, 500,000 vehicles will be produced each year.
The situation is finally unblocking for Tesla in Germany. Elon Musk announced in November 2019 the construction of Tesla’s first Gigafactory on the European continent, but it took more than two additional years for this factory located in Grünheide, near Berlin, to be authorized by the Land of Brandenburg.
Spread over 300 ha, it should start production by the end of March, nearly eight months behind the schedule initially planned. Eventually, 500,000 Tesla Model Y 100% electric SUVs should roll off the production lines each year at this factory, which employs 10,000 people at cruising speed. A significant rate for the American group which delivered nearly 1 million vehicles in 2021.
To save time despite the obstacles encountered in the validation process of its Gigafactory, the manufacturer had taken advantage of provisional authorizations to launch its construction site, without waiting for the final approval which has just been granted to it. This blessing from the authorities across the Rhine is a relief for Tesla who had seen his plans thwarted by strong local opposition.
Water consumption, the Achilles heel of the project
Indeed, the environmental impact of the plant has raised strong fears among environmentalists and local people. And for good reason, this new industrial installation involved the clearing of a pine forest in which protected species of lizards, snakes and bats had taken up residence. But the real source of concern for environmental associations is above all the water consumption of the factory, which is moreover in a region regularly affected by droughts. Opponents of the project believe that the operation of the mega-factory involves water consumption that can meet the needs of a city of 30,000 inhabitants.
Faced with these claims, which led to a temporary suspension of work, Tesla had agreed to reduce its water consumption by more than a third. However, the controversy was not extinguished for the American group, because if the latter thought it was definitely at peace after the green light from the German authorities, it was quickly disillusioned when it learned that an administrative court had suspended the pumping rights of the water syndicate whose depends on the manufacturer.
This last brake now lifted, Tesla, which has also been forced to create a works council to comply with German legislation, will finally be able to launch production and hunt on the lands of Volkswagen, Daimler or even BMW. Tesla’s German mega-factory barely authorized by German authorities, Volkswagen retaliated by announcing a 2 billion euro envelope dedicated to a new electric car factory near its historic headquarters in Wolfsburg. Production scheduled for 2026.