Tesla will finally be able to produce electric cars in Europe

Thanks to its final permit, the German factory « Gigafactory Berlin » will need to start production of the Tesla Model Y.

2 years and 4 months is the time it took between the first bulldozers and the final permit. From the start, Tesla faced strong opposition from environmentalists, who aimed to protect the forest area that needed to be cleared for the construction site. The automaker also encountered issues related to its significant water needs, raising concerns among local authorities.

The Model Y made in Europe begins its career

But finally, this March 4th marks the end of the struggles for the German site. The state of Brandenburg (eastern Germany) organized a special conference for this event. It confirmed the final environmental construction permit for the factory, which previously only had temporary documents allowing it to continue construction.

Tesla will thus be able to begin mass production of its electric vehicles by the end of March, according to regional authorities. A few formalities are still pending, which will take approximately two weeks before the official start.

The American brand plans to assemble only the SUV, the Model Y. It will be produced in two versions: Long Range (€59,990) and Performance (€66,990), both with a range exceeding 500 kilometers.

The target annual production is 500,000 units eventually, creating 12,000 jobs. In addition to vehicle manufacturing, Tesla also plans to establish a battery recycling unit.

Thanks to its new factory, Tesla will first streamline its logistics. Currently, the Model Y vehicles are shipped from China. Besides high costs, this solution results in longer delivery times for European customers.

The Gigafactory Berlin will mainly support Elon Musk’s ambitions. In January, the CEO reiterated the goal of increasing production by 50% every year. Last year, the American company surpassed this target with +88% and 936,000 vehicles delivered. In 2022, it should easily pass the million mark, reaching 2.5 million in 2024.

Tesla already relies on its original plant in Fremont (USA), soon to be assisted by the Gigafactory Austin, each producing 500,000 units. And the Shanghai plant will soon double its capacity, to nearly 900,000 vehicles annually. Overall, the manufacturer could reach 2.5 million electric cars. Unless orders follow… but that’s another story.

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