Tesla continues ramp-up at Giga Berlin, plans further expansion

The ramp-up of production at Tesla’s first European factory, Giga Berlin, is reportedly going “very well” according to the American EV manufacturer, smoothing the way for the announcement of a planned 100-hectare expansion.

Located in Gruenheide near Berlin, Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg (Giga Berlin) was host to a Tesla information day over the weekend with local reports quoting the manufacturer as saying that the continued ramp-up of Model Y production was going “very well”.

Though Tesla did not give any numbers to back up their confidence, local outlet Automobilwoche reported that 1,000 cars were being built per week during Germany’s Summer, which accounts for around a tenth of full capacity.

Further, the German Press Agency (DPA) is reporting that the plant is targeting production of 5,000 cars per week by the first quarter of 2023.

As both its new Gruenheide and Texas gigafactories continue to ramp up production, Tesla is aiming at annual production of 2 million in 2023, ahead of a long-term goal of annual production in the realm of 20 million.

Tesla also said over the weekend in Gruenheide that it wants to reduce water consumption in production, a direct response to concerns raised by local residents over the local water supply.

Separately, at what appears to be the same information day, Tesla presented expansion plans for its Gruenheide gigafactory to local residents.

Tesla launched plans for a 100-hectare expansion at Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg earlier this year, following a submission to the local council to begin development.

The expansion would include increased logistics and storage areas, a train station to allow for the delivery of components and export of cars, and social facilities such as a day-care centre.

The train station would facilitate twelve pairs of trains a day and would lead to a “significant relief for the environment and traffic”.

Tesla also reportedly announced that from Spring of 2023, a new shuttle train would run from Erkner directly to the factory, running up to 40 times a day with the capacity to transport up to 400 passengers per train.

Tesla’s Giga Berlin expansion plans have nevertheless come unstuck due to local concerns over the impact to the area, but several hundred visitors reportedly attended the information day on Sunday, including a number families and community representatives.